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Another post started??
Compared with other packaging materials such as glass, cardboard, and metal, plastic is the most recent to be introduced on our planet. The production and use of disposable plastics for packaging and other single-use items really ramped up after World War II. These disposable plastics were designed to be “quick and easy” and marketed as a great new solution to make our lives easier. were make life marketed This marked the beginning of a “throwaway culture” that would quickly overwhelm our planet with mountains of plastic waste… And the problem is that, since most of the plastic packaging found around food and products today can’t be easily recycled, it ends up in landfills or out in the environment, where it doesn’t belong. A lot of plastic litter finds its way into waterways and eventually into the ocean, where it breaks into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually forming microplastics.
We might not have realized it at first, but we are now wide awake to the consequences of living in a world of throwaway plastic. Unlike paper and cardboard, most plastic packaging we encounter today is not biodegradable. And even when it’s recycled, plastic is typically downcycled into items that can’t be recycled again. (Glass and aluminum, on the other hand, can be recycled endlessly without losing quality.) This means that most of the plastics that enter our homes as packaging or that we encounter on the go in the form of forks, cups, lids, and straws have the same fate. Buried forever in landfills or drifting around in the environment as litter. Much of it ends up in the ocean, where it causes harm to wildlife, and studies on the effects of microplastics on human health are underway. *Researchers have recently introduced new types of alternative plastics that are kinder to our planet, such as plant-based plastics that can break down in soil and plastics that can dissolve in seawater.
In response to this urgent call for action, a wider array of products in Earth-friendly packaging have been making an appearance in the marketplace. These include compostable, recyclable, and plastic-free.
But in some areas, business owners have been taking the zero-waste movement to a whole new level, making their entire stores plastic- and even package- free! To many, these revolutionary stores might look almost unrecognizable to many compared to today’s average neighborhood supermarket that has various forms of plastic as far as the eye can see down nearly every shelf.
This new generation of stores is essentially taking us back to the basics, similar to the way things used to be, shifting back to a simpler way of buying food, like people used to do … before the time when plastic wraps, bags, and containers even existed. With all of our advancements in innovations through time, we seem to be slowly coming full circle on the basics of how to buy food.
Imagine this: You take a trip to the grocery store to get the food and household items on your list, and you come home with only what you need… without any plastic packaging waste!
When we think about today’s grocery stores, with aisle after aisle of plastic-wrapped items, this idea might seem pretty far-fetched. But thanks to growing awareness about plastic pollution and increased consumer demand for low-waste options, a new type of grocery store has been popping up around the world in recent years. Known as “package-free” or “zero-waste” shops, these ultra-green stores allow customers to shop in ways that avoid creating extra any plastic or other wasteful packaging to throw away.
Instead of containing aisle after aisle of commercially packaged products like today’s typical grocery stores, these “package-free” shops have a completely different look and feel and share many of these common features:
It all started with the idea of buying goods in refillable containers to reduce both food waste and packaging waste. and these stores can now be found in many cities and towns around the world, including throughout the U.S.
Catherine Conway, an innovator from London, is considered to be one of the key pioneers of the modern zero-waste grocery movement. Back in 2006, she began selling unpackaged foods at a booth in local markets around London, and the following year she opened a shop called Unpackaged in Islington, London, which sold hundreds of different package-free products. Today, Catherine works with grocery stores and businesses to help them achieve package-free and other zero-waste solutions. Learn more about Catherine Conway and her story here.
For reference: https://www.amexessentials.com/packaging-free-supermarkets/
Since then, the UK has seen an explosion of zero-waste shops!
And this trend has not only caught on in the UK… These
Denmark?
Berlin?
Negozio Leggero, Opened first store in Italy in April 2009, and has since expanded multiple shops across Italy, France, and Switzerland
Wasteless Pantry, Western Australia, Opened first location in June 2015, now with multiple locations
The Zero Waste Shop, England
Humble Market, Philippines, Opened in July 2018
WATCH: Zero-waste store in the Philippines || Humble Market
Located in Brooklyn, NY, Precycle opened in late 2018 with this very mission, and has become well-known as the area’s first completely zero waste grocery shop. Check it out in the video below:
Wasteless Pantry is another small chain of zero-waste grocery stores that is growing in Australia. They have posted some great short videos to educate people about the need to cut back on packaging waste and the process of zero waste shopping:
Wasteless Pantry Bulk Food Store: An Alternative to Recycling
Around the world and Australia, and Italy to Malaysia, these revolutionary stores look very different compared to the average neighborhood supermarket.
Within the United States, several of these zero-waste grocery shops have opened since 2018, including in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, to Minneapolis within the United States
These zero-waste stores have been gaining widespread recognition and growing in popularity as more people are becoming aware for the need to cut back on waste from plastic packaging.
Instead of buying products that are wrapped in packaging from manufacturers, customers bring in their own reusable bags, jars, and other containers that can be filled with specific amounts of food and other products depending on what they need. These stores often include a wide range of dry bulk items such as grains, nuts, coffee, tea, spices, seeds, legumes, and pasta. Many also have liquid dispensers for oils, vinegar and honey, and some even have machines that can grind-your-own peanut butter. Some even offer other kinds of household goods in loose bulk, such as laundry powder and non-toxic cleaning products.
Check out how package-free shopping works in this quick video by Wasteless Pantry in Australia:
These zero waste stores are a huge and important first step in helping to tackle our current crisis with food packaging waste and plastic pollution. And while they truly can be a zero-waster’s dream-come-true, these plastic-free shops are still only found in a few spots around our planet, leaving most of us to face the typical plastic-filled grocery store when we head out to buy the things we need.
But there is still some good news for those who want to join in the movement to cut back on waste.
Although many of us might not live near one of these zero-waste shops (or just not yet, anyway!) there are actually lots of ways to shop “lower-waste” style and more sustainably at any kind of grocery store.
Stores that contain extensive organic, unpackaged produce selections and loose bulk food sections, such as Whole Foods, Sprouts, or Mom’s Organic Market can definitely make the task of reducing waste even easier.
These sites below are great for helping people find the nearest places to buy things in bulk or without packaging:
Zero Waste Home Bulk Finder Tool
Litterless: Zero Waste Grocery Guide
Related Posts:
***LINK***8 Shopping tips to help reduce packaging waste
Explore and Learn More:
Products without packaging: How refill stores can help solve the plastics crisis | Frontier Group
In the News:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/rise-zero-waste-grocery-stores-180971495/
**Combine with other zero-waste store post**
It’s no secret that avoiding everyday single-use items like plastic grocery bags and straws can help to reduce our environmental footprint. But there is another huge category of single-use plastic that we might not always think about: food packaging.
Plastic-wrapped products seem to cover nearly every aisle of the average grocery store today. Between all the pouches, containers, wraps, snack bags, bottles, foam cartons, and “clamshell” style containers, finding things that don’t come packaged in some form of plastic can often be a challenge!
Concerns about the impact of single-use plastic packaging on our environment have been growing. Plastics are made from fossil fuels and create pollution during their manufacturing. And like other types of single-use plastics, many forms of plastic packaging can be a challenge to recycle. This means that a lot of it ends up being dumped in landfills or out on the loose in our environment.
The good news is, we have been seeing many signs of positive change. Some products have been appearing packaged in more Earth-friendly materials that can be recycled, composted, and even refilled! And taking things to a whole new level, a new wave of package-free stores has been popping up all around the world.
But in reality, most of us probably don’t have access to a completely zero-waste shop where we live. (At least not yet, anyway!) But fortunately, there are many stores out there that offer a wide selection of unpackaged fresh produce and some even have bulk food sections where you can buy things like nuts, coffee, spices, rice, lentils, and popcorn kernels, in just the amount you need… and bring them home in your own reusable bag or container!
If you are looking for ways to reduce your household waste from packaging and join the package-free movement, these websites below can help! They offer searchable directories that can help people find the nearest stores where they can buy things in bulk or without packaging.
Find your nearest zero-waste shopping options
Zero Waste Home Bulk Finder Tool (International)
Litterless: Zero Waste Grocery Guide (U.S. only)
Related Posts:
8 Shopping tips to help reduce plastic waste (confirm name and link!)
***Zero waste grocery post***
Explore and Learn More:
Products without packaging: How refill stores can help solve the plastics crisis | Frontier Group
Are you looking for new ways to reduce plastic and transform your home into a greener, cleaner space? When it comes to making eco-friendly changes in your daily routine, the bathroom is a great place to start. From bamboo toothbrushes and shampoo bars to natural cleaners and “tree-free” bathroom tissue, there are so many ways to reduce your impact.
Some helpful tips before you begin…
If you are just embarking on your low-waste eco journey, use this list for ideas and inspiration. Don’t get overwhelmed by trying to make too many changes at once! Take time to figure out what works best for you and get comfortable with new products and routines before moving on. For many of the categories below, you’ll discover a wide range of options and brands to choose from out there! Also, here’s an important sustainable tip to keep in mind: Before buying more Earth-friendly versions of products you already own, try to use up what you have first so it doesn’t go to waste!
1. Bamboo toothbrushes—This is one of the simplest bathroom swaps! Imagine the number of plastic toothbrushes thrown away in the garbage every single day. You can reduce the number of plastic toothbrushes heading to landfills simply by switching to a bamboo toothbrush. Want to go even greener? Take your eco routine to the next level by composting or repurposing your bamboo handle instead of throwing it away.
2. Toothpaste tablets and powders – Empty toothpaste tubes are another common item in bathroom waste bins. But thanks to the wide range of plastic-free toothpaste tablets and powders available today, it can be quite easy to go “tubeless”. One popular brand of toothpaste tablets, Bite, sells “bit” refills in home compostable pouches for their reusable glass jars, making them extra eco-friendly! (And in case you’re wondering, yes, you can even buy mouthwash this way too!)
3. Dental floss in plastic-free packaging – Dental floss is another bathroom staple that typically comes encased in plastic. Buying floss in cardboard or refillable glass dispensers is an easy way to avoid this extra plastic waste. Better yet, some brands offer floss made from 100% compostable materials… making them completely waste-free! (Many flosses in plastic-free packaging aren’t biodegradable and still have to be thrown away.)
4. Shampoo and conditioner bars and refills – Shampoo and conditioner bars are the ultimate eco-friendly swap in the hair care department! These handy bars are easy to use, and just like bottled hair products, they come in different formulas for every hair type. They have been quickly gaining popularity in recent years, and today, there are lots of different brands to choose from. One award-winning international zero-waste beauty brand, Ethique, offers shampoo and conditioner bars along with many other bar products – including dog shampoo! All of Ethique’s packaging – right down to their little sticker seals – is home compostable! Check out the short video below to learn more about Ethique:
If you happen to live near a package-free or refill shop, buying shampoo and conditioner refills in your own containers is another great zero-waste option.
5. Body wash bars, concentrates, & refills – For those who prefer something other than regular bar soap for washing, body wash bars are an easy swap for liquid body wash in heavy plastic containers. You can also find body wash concentrates in bars, tablets, or pods – simply mix them with water at home and fill up your own reusable dispenser. Some zero-waste stores also sell body wash refills that customers can buy in their own reusable containers.
6. Natural loofah sponges – Plastic-based loofahs and shower “puffs” have nowhere to go except for the garbage bin once they get worn out. Natural loofah sponges made from 100% plant-based materials are a great Earth-friendly alternative! Once they get worn out, you can cut them up and compost them – or just bury them in the garden to break down naturally.
7. Body lotion… without the single-use plastic pump bottle – Many body lotions come in bulky single-use plastic dispensers with pump tops that often can’t be recycled. But the good news is that there are lots of body lotion options out there that don’t involve any plastic at all. These include lotions in recyclable metal or glass jars and even solid lotion bars in compostable cardboard packaging. Buying refills online from brands that take back and reuse their containers, such as Plaine Products, is another great zero-waste option! If you happen to have a package-free shop nearby where you can refill your own containers, this is always an Earth-friendly choice too.
8. Zero-waste razor – Disposable razors and razor heads add up to create a lot of waste over time. Reusable razors may cost a little bit more upfront, but they can also last much longer! Some ultra-eco-friendly zero-waste razor brands, such as Albatross, will also take their old blades back for recycling.
Check out this video below to learn more about Albatross:
9. Plastic and pump-free shaving soap – Shaving bars come in small boxes and are a great alternative for shaving foams and gels in metal canisters with plastic pumps and lids. Shaving soaps and creams can also be found in reusable or recyclable plastic-free jars and tins.
10. Plastic-free deodorant– No need for a plastic dispenser when a cardboard one can do the same job! Some zero-waste deodorant bars even come “naked”, without any dispenser at all. There are also a variety of easy recipes out there for how to make your own natural deodorant at home!
11. Facial cleanser bars and refills – Many face cleaning products found on store shelves today come in plastic tubes and containers which are often not recyclable through curbside collection programs. The easiest way to solve this problem is to skip the plastic altogether! Many brands make facial cleansing bars that come in compostable or recyclable cardboard packaging. If you prefer liquid face wash and happen to have a package-free shop nearby, you might be able to buy facewash refills using your own container. Some online stores, like Plaine Products, also sell plastic-free refills and will take back their empty containers to reuse again.
12. Face moisturizer… in plastic-free packaging – When it comes to facial moisturizing products that don’t involve plastic containers, there are lots of great options! Many face creams come in glass jars with metal lids that can be repurposed or recycled once they’re empty. Some ultra-eco-friendly brands, like Ethique, sell solid face cream in home-compostable cardboard packaging. Some brands sell face moisturizers in refillable containers that customers can send back once they’re empty. And of course, refilling your own container at a local package-free shop is always an eco-friendly move.
13. Bar soaps, liquid hand soap concentrates, and refills – There are all kinds of plastic-free options in the handwashing department! Whether we use bar soaps, buy zero-waste hand soap concentrates, get refills at a local zero-waste shop, or make our own hand soap at home… all achieve the same goal to skip the single-use plastic dispenser!
14. Plastic-free lip balm, lipsticks, and other makeup products – This category can seem a little trickier, but there are actually quite a few options out there when it comes to eco-friendlier cosmetics. A few examples include lip balms in compostable cardboard packaging, wooden mascara tubes, and zero-waste refills for compact powders, eyeshadows, and blushes.
15. Forest-friendly tissues – Some tissue products are directly linked to deforestation, while others are not. We can help to protect Earth’s forests simply by choosing tissue products made from 100% recycled fibers or other “tree-free” alternatives like bamboo. Washable, reusable tissues (a.k.a. the good old handkerchief!) are another ultra eco-friendly zero-waste solution.
16. Compostable or reusable swabs – Cotton swabs with a plastic stick just pile up day after day in the garbage bin. Choosing swabs made from 100% organic cotton is an easy way to avoid all this extra single-use plastic waste. Made from all-natural fibers, they can break down right in a home compost bin. Reusable swabs, such as LastSwab, are another great zero-waste option!
17. Reusable facial rounds or cloths – Reusable facial rounds are a great zero-waste replacement for cotton balls, make-up remover pads, and disposable cotton rounds. Often made from bamboo or organic cotton, simply pop them into the washing machine and use them again and again! Even just a simple cotton washcloth you already have can often do the trick too!
18. Waste-free feminine hygiene products – Disposable period products generate enormous amounts of plastic waste. Luckily for women today, there’s a huge range of zero-waste products available when it comes to “that time” of the month. These include menstrual cups, washable pads, and period underwear. Not only do these reusable swaps dramatically reduce waste, but they can help save a lot of money, too!
19. Compostable bandages made from plant-based materials – Most bandages are made from plastic and can’t break down naturally once they’ve been discarded. Eco-friendly bandages, like Patch by Nutricare, are completely compostable – including the wrapper! Patch strips are now widely available in the U.S., Canada, and around the world both in stores and through online retailers.
20. Recycled or bamboo toilet paper – It’s easy to go through roll after roll of bathroom tissue without giving it much thought. But the truth is, some major tissue brands directly contribute to the loss of old-growth forests. We can do our part to help this major problem by selecting brands made with 100% recycled content or bamboo. Some “tree-free” paper brands are based online, but you can also often find them right in the tissue aisle of your local store.
21. Bidet – This one is simple: When you use a bidet, you don’t need as much toilet paper! Less toilet paper means less resource use and pollution from production and shipping. Yes, bidets do use water… but using a bidet can actually help reduce water use overall since the manufacturing of tissue products uses up huge amounts of water! Bidet attachments are quite affordable (many in the $50-100 range) and can be installed right onto a regular toilet.
22. Homemade air freshener sprays – Store-bought air freshener sprays often come in hard-to-recycle spray-top dispensers. When you make your own natural air freshener spray at home, you know exactly what’s inside and can keep refilling the same bottle! Many recipes found online only require a few basic ingredients such as distilled water, essential oils, and vanilla extract.
23. Eco-friendly bathroom cleaners – From mirror sprays to bathroom scrubs, you can find all kinds of make-it-yourself recipes out there. Making homemade natural cleaners in reusable dispensers reduces the need for single-use spray bottles and shakers. It can also help save money, too! For those who prefer pre-made cleaning products, buying concentrate tablets or bars can be another great plastic-free option. Just dilute them with water and fill up a reusable spray bottle!
24. Plastic-free cleaning tools – When it comes to scrubbing sinks and cleaning toilets, natural brushes, sponges, and cloths can do a great job – without any plastic involved at all! Look for cleaning tools made from 100% plant-based materials like wood, natural bristles, and coconut fibers. If you can compost them at the end of their useful life, even better! (Note: If you have plastic cleaning tools that are still in good condition, keep using them until they get worn out before buying more Earth-friendly alternatives.)
Related Posts:
The quick start guide to Going Greener: Shrink your footprint today!
Transitioning to a more eco-friendly lifestyle can’t happen overnight. Celebrate small successes and share them with others! Every greener step we take helps to reduce our footprint, and together, we can make a big difference! #goinggreenertoday
Join me on Facebook and Instagram @goinggreenertoday
Do you ever see or hear birds outside and wonder which species they are? Would you like to quickly identify unfamiliar plants you come across in your yard or along the trail? Are you interested in connecting with other nature enthusiasts and sharing your observations to support conservation research?
Whether you’re a beginner looking for ways to get more in touch with your “nature side” or already an avid nature lover, these apps below can help boost your nature knowledge to the next level and get you more involved in citizen science projects centered around studying and protecting nature. (And, they’re all free!)
Would you like to be able to identify birds just by their sounds? The BirdNET app can do just that! This easy-to-use mobile app, developed by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, can help identify thousands of birds across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and many other regions worldwide. Simply record a short clip of what you hear and submit it, and BirdNET will show you the best possible matches!
Learn more about BirdNET in this video:
The popular Merlin Bird ID app, also developed by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, can help identify birds based on uploaded photos, sound recordings, and answers to a few basic questions. This all-in-one bird identification and education tool includes species found across the U.S., Canada, Europe, India, and Central and South America. This app can also work offline after you’ve downloaded the “bird pack” for your area – no signal needed! And just like BirdNET, it’s free.
Watch this video to learn more:
Would you like to help gather data for bird studies, from wherever you are, just using your phone? Check out the eBird app and join one of the largest biodiversity-related citizen science platforms in the world! This free, user-friendly app allows you to record and share your bird observations while on the go. Bird sighting data and photos submitted by eBird contributors are displayed on the eBird website for anyone to access, including scientists and students studying bird populations and diversity. This app is used by over a million people worldwide and is available in over 30 languages. In June 2025, eBird announced it had reached 2 billion observations!
Learn more about eBird in this video below:
Once you have the Merlin Bird ID and/or eBird apps, you’re all set to participate in these annual global birding events below!
This is a must-have app for anyone who loves exploring nature and would like to connect with fellow nature lovers! iNaturalist not only provides a space for people to document, share, and discuss their observations of the living world, but it also shares the data submitted by its contributors with global biodiversity databases, allowing scientists to use it in their research. iNaturalist users can also participate in nature observation events or start their own!
Learn more about the iNaturalist app in this video:
Seek by iNaturalist is a family-friendly app that makes exploring and learning about nature extra-easy! All you have to do is point the camera at any living thing – including plants, insects, and fungi – and Seek will instantly provide information on what you are looking at. Observers can earn badges for the things they discover, making it fun for kids, too!
Watch this video below to learn more:
There are a lot of plant identification apps out there to choose from, but not all of them allow you to share what you observe and get involved in nature research. Why not contribute your observations for a greater purpose and connect with a community of fellow nature enthusiasts at the same time?
With the Pl@ntNet app, you not only have a great plant ID tool at your fingertips – you can also take part in collecting plant biodiversity data for research and conservation. This free citizen science app makes it easy to identify wild plants based on photos of their leaves, flowers, bark, or fruit. You can then choose to share your observations with the PlantNet community so that they can be compiled and used in research.
Learn more about PlantNet in the video below:
When it comes to nature identification apps, there are plenty to pick from. But the apps highlighted in this post go far beyond just identification… They help build awareness and community and provide a way for anyone to take part in something larger to support the natural world, from wherever they are. The more observations people contribute using these apps, the better we can understand the natural world that surrounds and supports us, and the better we can help protect it.
Follow eBird, Merlin Bird ID, iNaturalist, and Pl@ntNet on social media!
Did you find this post helpful? Please share and like on social media using the links below!
Want to get more involved in sustainable living and protecting nature?
Check out this post:
The quick start guide to Going Greener: Shrink your footprint today!
**add pic, meta– change title?? adjust number??
Shelter,
Natural food sources, feeders – Link Great Backyard Bird Count, FeederWatch, eBird
-Feederwatch – link to page: Feeding Birds
Water
Go natural! Avoiding chemicals, restoring more biodiversity brings more life to your yard.
List benefits:
https://www.thespruce.com/benefits-of-bird-feeding-386531
Explore and Learn More:
11 Tips for Feeding Backyard Birds | Audubon
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Intro!!!
Growing some of your own veggies, fruits, and herbs in your backyard has many benefits! First, it provides you with nutrient-packed fresh produce that can be harvested right when you need it. It also reduces the carbon footprint of your food by reducing the need for transportation and packaging… which is often made of plastic. Having a garden – or even growing a few favorites in containers on a patio or balcony – can be educational, exciting, and rewarding. Plus, it teaches us so much about how food grows… and why we should take care not to waste it.
Eco-Tip: Rempty plant containers from store-bought plants can be reused in the garden for growing potted plants and starting plants from seed.
When food scraps and other organics end up in a landfill without oxygen, they release potent greenhouse gases in the form of methane. So by recycling food scraps and other organics through composting, you not only dramatically reduce household waste – you can also shrink your carbon footprint! And here’s another great benefit of composting: The compost you produce can be used as a nutrient-rich natural fertilizer for flowerbeds, vegetable gardens, and even your lawn.
Some cities across the U.S. (plus the entire state of Vermont!) have municipal composting programs and guidelines already in place. But if you don’t live in one of these areas and don’t have access to a compost pickup service, it’s easy to start composting right in your backyard.
discuss natural lawn care and native plants– including planting new native trees –invites birds, bees, butterflies and other wonders, increase biodiversity
5. Use hand tools if possible
One bonus of gardening with native plants and switching to natural lawn care techniques is that your yard won’t need nearly as much watering! At times when you do need to use the hose, however, pay attention to how much you are using and incorporate water-saving practices, such as watering in the morning and using mulch in beds to retain moisture.
Another great way to reduce household water use? Get a rain barrel!
Besides helping to reduce household water use, rain barrels bring many other environmental benefits. This includes helping to reduce local flooding, erosion, and water pollution caused by stormwater runoff. Also, using a rain barrel for watering can be healthier for plants! This is because it contains a more natural balance of minerals compared with water from the hose that has been through the treatment process.
Eco-Tip: If your rain barrel isn’t directly connected to a downspout, such as this one, you may want to add fine mesh or screen to any open areas to prevent mosquitoes from getting to the water.
This slow-living routine can When you hang laundry outside to dry, you won’t need your tumble dryer as much. This helps to conserve energy, save money, and give you a few extra minutes outside doing something the slower way… no technology needed. If you don’t have room in your yard for a clothesline, outdoor drying racks can work great, too!
8. Provide additional sources of food and water for birds
-Native plants
–Birdfeeders, bird bath
Related Posts:
Add pics, video links, meta,
Once you have the eBird app, you’re all set to participate in global birding days like the
Backyard Bird Count, Global Big Day Spring and Fall!!
Great Backyard Bird Count in mid-February
World Migratory Bird Day – participating in Global Big Day and October Big Day is the perfect way to celebrate and take part in bird conservation
help raise awareness!
Global Big Day in May
October Big Day during spring and fall migration.
***Change number in title***Add meta, keyphrase, more tags?
Join a global movement to clean up our Earth’s oceans! This app lets you easily track your cleanup efforts anytime, anywhere!
Litterati app
Plastic Footprint App
Palm Oil app
ShareWaste
Research more top eco apps!!
*****add Link to nature apps post!****
Would you
**Add pic, meta, change title/number?
History of the American lawn
**Quote Douglas Tallamy books and other quotes” – Biggest national park is our yards! “Littering” by planting invasive species and using chemicals– look up!!
Natural lawn care starts with letting go of the idea that we have to maintain a perfect, uniform, green grass lawn. But what we many people might believe is the most appealing look for, the “perfect” green lawn is actually very hard on our environment. Water, fertilizers, pesticides, energy trimming & maintaining… and because of the way they are maintained and their uniformity, these areas are almost completely empty of life!
Embracing biodiversity http://www.ryesustainability.com/rsc-newsevents/2016/10/10/its-fall-a-perfect-time-to-switch-to-organic-landscaping
Use for tips– NOT link:
Have you heard about the nature-friendly trend going on in yards around the country? As awareness grows about pollinator decline and biodiversity loss, and water shortages —–
Out with the chemical-dependant “perfect” green lawn, and in with nature-friendly yards!
Participate in the “unlawn” movement
Let nature grow- embrace the variety of plants that pop up between those blades of grass, and enjoy the nature that comes along with it!
Rethink the concept of “weeds”… natural succession
For reference–
https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/natural-lawn-care-techniques/5065.html
https://www.consumerreports.org/lawn-care/eco-friendly-lawn-helpers-guide-a5481150884/
https://www.planetnatural.com/organic-lawn-care-101/ Split some below– make short quick points
https://xerces.org/blog/bee-friendlier-with-your-lawncare
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/organic-lawn-care
Many neighborhoods around the U.S. have strict homeowner’s association rules that require certain levels of maintenance in the front yards. Hopefully, this will change over time as awareness continues to grow about the environmentally-damaging effects of traditional lawn care techniques. But even for those who live in HOAs where pristine yards are the norm, there are still many ways to transition yards into more nature-friendly spaces. For one, HOAs often don’t specify what kinds of plants to use in your landscaping (Hint: Think native!), how much area your lawn has to cover, or how you maintain your grass. For example, simple changes could be as easy as switching to organic lawn care methods or hand-pulling plants that grow where you don’t want them. Many HOAs don’t specify rules for how backyards must be maintained, so
Related Posts:
-composting
-nature
Explore and Learn More:
Bee Friendlier With Your Lawn Care | Xerces Society
What is a Pollinator Lawn? | Smithsonian Gardens
A Lush Lawn Without Pesticides | Consumer Reports
Lawns and Landscapes | Beyond Pesticides
Pesticide-Free Landscaping Methods and Alternatives | Sierra Club Maryland Chapter
Would you like to discover some new ways to minimize disposable plastics in your home? This post explores some easy and effective eco-friendly tips and swaps to help you reduce plastic and transform your kitchen into a more eco-friendly living space.
In many homes, the kitchen is often one of the main hiding places for single-use plastic. Whether it’s food packaging, grocery bags, or disposable food wrap, most plastic items will end up in the garbage after just one short use. All this wasted plastic contributes to pollution, uses up our planet’s resources, and takes up a lot of landfill space. Not to mention, much of it also ends up in the environment as litter!
Consciously changing habits—including what we buy—to reduce our environmental impact can take some effort, especially when we’ve been used to certain routines for a long time. But transitioning to a more Earth-friendly lifestyle doesn’t have to be hard or stressful. By consciously making a few simple changes, we can significantly reduce the amount of plastic we use and throw away.
Read on for some helpful tips to help you start shrinking your plastic footprint today!
Reducing plastic and other waste in the kitchen starts with making eco-conscious shopping decisions.
Whenever possible, choose products with plastic-free packaging. If you can’t find plastic-free, look for products with the least amount of plastic packaging. For products that you use regularly, you may want to opt for larger packages over single-serve convenience packs that tend to create a lot more waste.
Some stores have bulk sections where nuts, spices, grains, other dry goods, and household products can be purchased in reusable bags and containers from home—no packaging necessary! Use the Litterless Zero Waste Grocery Guide to find the closest stores that offer ways to buy waste-free.
Don’t forget your reusable shopping bags!
One of the most effective ways to reduce plastic waste from your shopping trips is to be ready with reusable grocery and produce bags to bring the things you buy home. This one super eco-friendly shopping habit alone can significantly reduce your plastic footprint!
It can be easy to get into the habit of using single-use dinnerware and other disposables without considering their impact on the environment. These short-lived products use up resources, contribute to pollution, and create a lot of waste!
But the truth is, most disposable tableware can be avoided while eating at home. All it takes is a simple and eco-conscious choice to use regular dishes and utensils that can be washed and used again. Not to mention, continually buying single-use cups, plates, and utensils can become costly over time. So, opting for reusable versions can also help you save money!
Buying box after box of disposable food storage bags and rolls of plastic wrap leads to a lot of unnecessary waste – and it also adds up for your wallet over time! The good news is that these types of single-use plastic products can often be easily avoided with a few plastic-free swaps and changes to your kitchen routine.
It starts with using what you already have at home…
Sometimes, all it takes to avoid disposable plastics is using something you already have at home. A simple reusable container and lid can often replace single-use plastic wraps and bags. Upside-down plates and bowls can also make great temporary covers for a meal waiting to be eaten.
Eco-tip: Finding new uses for things we already have—instead of buying more new items—helps reduce our footprint.
When it comes to wrapping and storing food, there are many great reusable options to choose from that don’t involve disposable plastic. These include:
Skip the single-use food storage bags and replace them with durable versions made of silicone or other materials. These washable, resealable bags are great for packing lunches and bringing snacks on the go. And since they’re reusable, they don’t end up in the garbage can!
If you walk down the dishwashing supply aisle at a typical grocery store, you’ll probably see shelf after shelf filled with plastic dish soap bottles and thick plastic tubs containing plastic-wrapped dishwasher tablets. You’ll also likely find lots of plastic brushes, scrubbers, and colorful sponges wrapped in—yes—more plastic.
But here’s the thing: Washing dishes doesn’t need to involve so much plastic!
If you’re willing to step outside of your regular shopping routine, you’ll discover a wide range of dishwashing supplies that are much kinder to our planet. Here are just a few listed below:
*If you’re not already composting and want to learn more, check out our All About Composting: Videos & Resources page.
Zero-waste stores are popping up all around the world, especially in larger cities. These ultra-eco-friendly shops only sell products with the highest Earth-friendly standards when it comes to packaging and contents. But if you don’t happen to have a zero-waste store nearby, grocery stores specializing in natural and organic foods will also often carry a selection of eco-friendly household products. Use the Litterless Zero Waste Grocery Guide to check for local stores that may carry plastic-free and zero-waste household products.
If buying locally is not an option, a quick online search for a specific zero-waste or eco-friendly product will lead you to many great options!
Eco-Tip: When ordering eco-friendly products online, look for companies that offer plastic-free shipping. After all, one of the main goals is to reduce the amount of plastic waste you create!
Using single-use pump hand soap dispensers for the kitchen sink creates a lot of wasted plastic over time. Not to mention, continually buying and replacing pump soaps can be costly! Even though these plastic containers are sometimes recycled, their pump tops typically aren’t recyclable. So, they’ll usually just end up in the landfill or incinerator.
But thankfully, we have lots of great eco-friendly alternatives to choose from in the hand-washing department! Here are a few below:
One way to avoid using single-use pump containers is to buy hand soap concentrates in compostable or recyclable packaging. These concentrates are available in many different forms, including tablets, bars, and even water-soluble pods. Most of them just need water and take only a few minutes to make—then you can fill up a reusable soap dispenser!
Making your own foaming hand soap at home is easy—all you need is castile soap, water, and a foaming soap dispenser. Combine one part pure castile soap (like Dr. Bronner’s brand) with three to four parts water in a foaming soap dispenser, and you’re done—instant foaming hand soap! *Note: The ratio of castile soap to water can be adjusted based on your preferred consistency.
Since one bottle of ultra-concentrated castile soap can last a long time, making hand soap this way helps reduce the number of single-use containers and pump tops that go to waste.
Eco-Tip: To shrink your footprint even more, reuse an empty foaming soap dispenser that originally came full from the store.
Hand soap refills
Some zero-waste stores have refill stations where customers can fill up their own containers—no packaging necessary! Use the Litterless Zero Waste Grocery Guide to discover if your area has refill options.
Bar soaps
Bar soaps can be another Earth-friendly option, especially if they come wrapped in paper or don’t have packaging at all!
One final note…
Trying to make too many changes all at once can seem overwhelming. If you’re taking steps to reduce your footprint, it can be helpful to focus on one or two areas first and take time to get used to new products and routines before moving on. Each of our small steps adds up to make a big difference!
Related posts:
Skip single-use on the go: Bring these reusables along with you!
The quick start guide to Going Greener: Shrink your footprint today!
Explore and Learn more:
Our planet is choking on plastic | UN Environment Programme
Single-Use Plastics 101 | NRDC
Curbside recycling services are a convenient way to recycle common everyday materials like aluminum cans, cardboard, and paper. But not all collection services accept the same things, and many types of items can’t be recycled this way at all. Thankfully, there are many ways to recycle!
One of the best ways to shrink our environmental footprint is to cut back on how much we use in the first place. But even when we consciously take steps to reduce waste, we’re still going to find ourselves with things we need to get rid of. And just because some things aren’t recyclable through our household blue bin, this doesn’t necessarily mean they have to end up in the garbage! Read on below to learn about all kinds of drop-off and mail-in options that can help us keep more of our unwanted “stuff” – from worn-out sneakers to burned-out strings of holiday lights – in the “loop” and out of the garbage.
Each time we throw things away, the resources that were used to make them go to waste. The more resources we bury and burn, the more we need to take from the Earth to replace them. More drilling, mining, and deforestation lead to more pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and habitat loss. It boils down to this: The more things we use and throw away, the greater the impact on our planet and the environment we all depend on.
By taking the time to carefully recycle all that we can, we help to conserve resources and protect our planet in many different ways.
This post focuses on ways to keep products such as light bulbs, electronics, and clothes from ending up in the garbage and going to waste. Kitchen scraps and other organic materials can be kept out of landfills and recycled too through the practice of composting. Want to learn more? Check out our other posts here at Going Greener Today all about composting and why it’s so important.
If you have a local curbside recycling service, it’s always a good idea to confirm exactly what they will accept – and then go from there. (Collected items that are not on the list of accepted recyclables will often end up at a landfill or incinerator anyway.) Depending on your location and collection company, certain common items like glass bottles and jars might not be recyclable through your curbside bin. But this doesn’t mean they should automatically end up in the garbage bin!
And what about all of the miscellaneous items we have to get rid of from time to time, like used batteries, burned-out lightbulbs, empty ink cartridges, and old electronics or appliances? In many cases, these items are recyclable too!
Through a combination of drop-off and mail-in programs, many household items we no longer need can be kept in the loop instead of going to waste.
Did you know? Plastic and many other types of materials often get downcycled into lower-quality products rather than recycled into the same product it was before. While this type of recycling (i.e. downcycling) does help to stop materials from heading straight to landfills, it does not curb new production of the original product. For these reasons, there has been a gradual shift in recent years to find ways to recycle or upcycle products into equal or even higher-quality materials and products, following a truly circular model. With that said, reducing and reusing are always the most sustainable options!
When it comes to plastic grocery bags, the greenest thing you can do is avoid them whenever possible by going bagless or bringing reusable bags when you shop. But even when you’re doing your best to reduce plastic use, you still might find yourself collecting some soft plastics like bread bags, cereal box liners, and plastic mailing pouches.
Most curbside recycling services won’t accept plastic bags and many types of flexible plastic film. But the good news is that you can still recycle many soft plastics by dropping them off in special collection bins near the entrances of many grocery stores and other retailers. Learn more about plastic film recycling on the How2Recycle website.
Not sure where your nearest drop-off location is? Check out this state-by-state directory of participating retailers that offer plastic film collection bins.
Many counties and municipalities have recycling centers where residents can drop off a variety of items for recycling. These facilities often accept a wider range of items compared to recycling collection services. And even if they aren’t able to recycle something, they still might be able to point you in the right direction! Commonly accepted items at recycling centers include used batteries, old paint, scrap metal, appliances, and some electronics.
Recycling centers can especially be a great resource in areas where curbside collection services are not available, but they can also be a great supplement to curbside services. For example, in areas where glass bottles and jars aren’t accepted through curbside services, you might still be able to drop them off for recycling.
Did you know? Glass, like aluminum, is infinitely recyclable!
Some hardware stores have recycling stations where customers can drop off certain harder-to-recycle items. Home Depot, for example, collects rechargeable batteries, compact fluorescent light bulbs, cardboard, and even empty plant pots!
Is there a Mom’s Organic Market nearby? This Earth-friendly grocery store chain collects all kinds of harder-to-recycle items. Check out their in-store recycling drop-off bins for batteries, eyeglasses, shoes, cork, cell phones & tablets, and more, including seasonal recycling drives for denim and holiday lights. They even collect food scraps and other organics for composting! (Locations in MD, VA, DC, PA, NJ, & NY)
The programs below can help get you to the next level on your recycling quest, but this is by no means an exhaustive list. There are all kinds of great local, seasonal, and brand-specific recycling programs out there! If you can’t find what you’re looking for using the resources here, try a quick online search. There’s a good chance you might discover some new Earth-friendly ways to reduce waste that you didn’t know about before.
The Best Buy Electronics and Appliance Recycling Program is an amazing resource for recycling large and small household items like old televisions, vacuums, VCRs, laptops, ink & toner cartridges, and much more.
Staples has an extensive free drop-off recycling program for all kinds of items ranging from old printers and fax machines to speakers, monitors, and gaming consoles. They also recycle used ink & toner cartridges and various types of batteries.
The Batteries + Bulbs Recycling Program takes a wide range of batteries and light bulbs, plus small electronics such as power cords, charging accessories, and cell phones for recycling.
OfficeMax and OfficeDepot also offer an in-store drop-off program for empty ink and toner cartridges.
If drop-off off isn’t an option where you live, mail-in programs can be another great solution! These are available for all kinds of electronic-related items such as batteries, cell phones, empty printer cartridges, and light bulbs. Check out this helpful article on Earth911 to learn more: 10 Things You Can Recycle Through the Mail
Many major companies also have their own brand-specific recycling programs. Here are a few to check out:
Have old strings of burned-out holiday lights? No need to throw them away! Send them off for recycling to Christmas Light Source or Holiday LEDs, or drop them off locally for recycling through seasonal programs where available. Local hardware stores or recycling centers are often a great place to start!
According to the EPA, 11.3 million tonnes of textiles were dumped into U.S. landfills in 2018, making up 7.7% of total landfilled municipal solid waste that year. But many unwanted shoes and clothing items are still in good condition. They don’t have to end up buried in a landfill… It’s often just a matter of finding a new home – or purpose – for them!
Clothing donation programs can help to distribute gently used, essential clothing and shoes to those in need. Many areas have local charities that accept used clothes throughout the year through convenient drop-off locations. Some will even arrange to pick up donations right from your house.
Soles4Souls is a top-rated nonprofit that redistributes gently used or new shoes & clothing to those in need. Items can be dropped off or shipped for free through the Zappos for good program.
USAgain is a for-profit organization that accepts gently used or new shoes & clothing through their drop boxes. They resell, repurpose, or recycle collected items and plant new trees in the process! *Not available in all states
Selling items through local second-hand shops and online resale platforms helps to give clothes, shoes, and accessories another useful life. This can be a great way to earn some money back, too! Some brands, like REI and Patagonia, have trade-in programs and resell gently used clothing and gear.
Do you enjoy creative projects? If so, try upcycling old clothes like jeans and t-shirts into accessories, artwork, new clothes, and other useful items. The possibilities are endless! If you’re not sure where to begin, a quick online search can provide lots of great ideas.
And even when you can’t repair or repurpose certain things – like your old worn-out running shoes, for example – recycling is often possible! Check out these great programs below:
Re-Spun by Marine Layer – Tee Recycling Program – This program accepts all brands of T-shirts and recycled them into new shirts. You can either drop old t-shirts off in stores or request a pre-paid mailing kit.
Nike Grind Shoe Recycling Program – The Nike Grind program recycles worn-out athletic shoes of any brand, not just Nike! Some participating Nike locations also accept certain types of used athletic wear.
Blue Jeans Go Green – This program recycles authentic denim (made from cotton) into various products, including insulation and bedding inserts.
Soma’s “Bra It Forward” Recycling Program – Used bras can be dropped off at any Soma boutique for donation to those in need or recycling through The Bra Recyclers. Bras can also be mailed directly to The Bra Recyclers.
Parade’s Second Life Recycling Program accepts any brand of underwear for recycling through Terracycle.
Sports equipment tends to pile up over time in closets, garages, and basements. And when the time comes to get rid of these items, they are often still in good condition. In these cases, the Earth-friendliest move is to pass them on so someone else can use them! Local charities and organizations often gladly accept used sports equipment. In many cases, selling used items is another good option. Play It Again Sports specializes in buying and selling used sports equipment, both online and through their retail locations.
But what about things like used tennis balls and old golf balls? Turns out, there are even ways to avoid sending them to a landfill, too:
Recycleballs.org – RecycleBalls is a nonprofit organization that collects used tennis balls from facilities and individuals and turns them into “Green gold”, which is then used to make new court surfaces and other products.
reBounces Tennis Ball Recycling Program – This program uses old tennis balls to make new court surfaces. The video below explains how it works!
These two companies buy large quantities of used golf balls and then refurbish and resell them:
Taking steps to reduce waste from plastic packaging is a great way to reduce your footprint. But some types of plastic packaging can be harder to dodge than others. And when it comes to some products, plastic packaging can be unavoidable.
Thanks to Terracycle’s innovative programs, it’s possible to recycle all kinds of hard-to-recycle packaging. This includes everything from chip bags and candy bar wrappers to mascara tubes and empty tubes and palettes from cosmetics.
Nordstrom BeautyCycle – Drop off plastic cosmetic containers, pump tops, mascara tubes, and more at Nordstrom for recycling through Terracycle. Learn more in the video below:
Terracycle Recycling Brigades – Terracycle offers many free, out-of-the-box recycling options for various specific types of packaging – including snack bags, cosmetic containers, and much more! *Participating brands only
Subaru Loves the Earth – Free Recycling Program – Drop off empty snack bags, candy wrappers, and more at participating Subaru dealers for recycling through Terracycle.
Terracycle Zero Waste boxes – These boxes are available for purchase and provide a way for people to recycle packaging materials such as frozen food bags, coated paper and cardboard, candy and chip bags, and various other harder-to-recycle items. *Prices include pre-paid shipping.
Still not sure about how to recycle something? These online recycling directories can be great resources for finding local and mail-away options for all kinds of items!
Earth911 – Earth911 is a great tool for finding recycling options for a huge range of items, ranging from automotive parts and construction materials to hazardous materials and harder-to-recycle plastics. (U.S. listings only)
Recycle Nation – This helpful directory provides information on how to recycle a wide variety of “beyond the blue bin” items. (U.S. listings only)
Terracycle offers a wide range of free, brand-specific recycling programs and also sells Zero Waste Boxes for everything from used protective gear to plastic pens and markers.
As the global shift continues toward a more circular economic model, we will see more and more of these types of programs in the future. By taking steps to keep more in the loop together, the more we can reduce our collective impact on the environment.
Related Posts:
-Circular economy
-2-3 recycling posts
-Composting
***Combine content with Beyond the Blue Bin post!!!!***
It’s no secret today that plastic recycling has become a major challenge around the world, including in the United States. Aside from all of the other environmental problems caused by plastic, this is yet another reason to reduce our use of plastic however and whenever we can!
But even when we’re doing our best to avoid plastic as much as possible, chances are that we will still find ourselves with some to deal with.
While plastic drink bottles and milk jugs are often accepted for recycling through curbside collection bins, many of the other types and shapes of plastic in our kitchens are not. And when plastic bags, pouches, and containers end up mixed in with other recyables when they aren’t supposed to be, they usually will get pulled from the recycling stream at the sorting facility and thrown away. For this reason, checking with your local collection service to find out what specific plastics they can recycle is an important step in any effective household recycling routine.
Even though bags and other soft plastics might not be recyclable through your curbside recycling bin, this doesn’t mean they have to end up in the garbage!
Store drop-off bins for plastic bags and film
Many types of stretchy plastics, such as bread bags, produce packaging, and cereal bag liners can be recycled through drop-off bins at local stores. These plastics will often have a small triangle symbol with a #2 or #4 printed on them, and some will also be marked with a “Store Drop-off” recycling label. But many soft plastics without numbers or recycling symbols on them can still be recycled this way. For more details on which specific plastics are accepted in these drop-off bins, visit plasticfilmrecycling.org.
Not sure where to find your nearest drop-off bin? Search for the closest locations here at bagandfilmrecycling.org. (U.S. only)
We’ve talked abo how to recycle some of the more common types of plastic, but what about other things such as plastic clamshell containers, foam to-go containers, and other types of plastic packaging?
Depending on where you live, you might be able to find other local drop-off options for specific plastics by searching online recycling directories such as Earth911 and RecycleNation.
If you would like to take your recycling to yet another level, check out TerraCycle’s Plastic Packaging Zero Waste Boxes. These mail-away recycling boxes can be purchased online through TerraCycle and other zero-waste stores. They are available in various sizes and include a pre-paid shipping label, making it super easy to send them back to TerraCycle once they’re full.
Aside from their Zero Waste boxes, TerraCycle offers many free drop-off and mail-in programs for specific kinds of product packaging. But even when recycling is possible, it’s important to keep in mind that reducing what we use in the first place is always the most sustainable action we can take.
Holiday lights help brighten the season, but they don’t last forever. When they get old and need replacing, don’t toss them in the garbage—recycle them!
Anytime we recycle instead of throwing things away, we help conserve resources and reduce waste and pollution. The more we can keep materials in the loop and save them from landfills and incinerators, the better for our planet!
But when it comes to recycling, not all items are equal. While many common materials are recyclable through household blue bins, some items—like old strings of holiday lights—may need an extra step to save them from the landfill.
Hardware stores
Check with your local hardware store. In some areas, home improvement stores like Ace Hardware might accept holiday lights for recycling year-round, while other programs are only offered seasonally. Lowes and The Home Depot also often offer holiday light recycling trade-in events for old lights.
Grocery stores
Some grocery stores may also host holiday light collection sites. If you happen to live in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C., near a Mom’s Organic Market, you’re in luck! They will take old stands of lights off your hands over the holiday season… along with other harder-to-recycle items at their recycling center.
More seasonal drop-off sites
Depending on your location, several seasonal drop-off options may be available nearby. These can include:
-Local recycling centers
-Municipal buildings and libraries
-Community and environmental centers
-Hazardous waste facilities
Eco-Tip: Unsure where to look first? Local recycling centers can be a great resource for all of your recycling questions.
You can also use online recycling directories like Earth911 and RecycleNation to see if there are other holiday light recycling options in your area. (Note: You may need to search under “string lights.”) These great websites can help you find recycling options for all kinds of items you no longer need!
If you are having trouble finding a drop-off location nearby, there is yet another way to keep those lights out of the landfill: You can mail them in for recycling!
Here are a few companies that accept holiday lights for recycling by mail:
Holiday LEDS – This Wisconsin-based company accepts lights by mail and local drop-off. They will even send a coupon towards a future light purchase once they receive holiday lights for recycling!
GreenCitizen – Based in the San Francisco Bay area, GreenCitizen also offers a mail-in program for old string lights and other electronics.
So the next time you have old holiday lights to replace, remember: You have lots of Earth-friendly options!
Check out The quick start guide to Going Greener: Shrink your footprint today! to learn more.
Have you heard the latest buzz about composting?
In recent years, the practice of separating food scraps, yard trimmings, and other organic materials and allowing them to break down naturally – instead of throwing them in the garbage – has become widely recognized as an effective way to improve soil health, reduce waste, and curb potent greenhouse gas emissions from landfills.
In some areas, composting has already become a part of everyday life. Cities like San Francisco, California, and Portland, Oregon, already have compost collection programs that involve residents in this important – but often overlooked – form of recycling. As of July 1, 2020, Vermont became the first state to implement a mandatory composting law to prevent food scraps from entering landfills.
But in most parts of the U.S., the decision to participate in composting remains up to each individual.
Luckily, we have lots of options when it comes to composting. And no matter which method is used, all composting methods accomplish the same main goal: keeping food scraps and other organics out of landfills so they can be returned to the environment and used by new life to grow.
Options for recycling food scraps and other organic waste can depend greatly on where you live. While city dwellers might not have enough space to compost at home, they might have the option to use a curbside collection service or drop off their food scraps at a nearby community composting site. On the other hand, for people living in rural and suburban areas, composting on-site (home composting) is often the best – and sometimes the only – option.
Curbside composting services collect food scraps and other compostables from homes, businesses, and other locations and take them to farms and other large-scale composting facilities. These services have been expanding over the last several years in response to the growing awareness about the important role composting can play in sustainable living. Many of these compost collection companies also offer their customers the option to receive shares of finished compost to use in their gardens. As an alternative, compost collection customers often can donate their compost to local farms.
Where available, compost pickup services can be a great option for those who don’t have the space to compost at home or would prefer the convenience of having food scraps and other organics collected from their home on a regular schedule.
CompostNow’s map and directory is a great resource for finding curbside composting services across the U.S. and Canada.
Watch this great video featuring Garbage to Garden, a curbside compost company in Portland, Maine, to learn more about how these services work: (3:22 min)
Depending on where you live, you might have the option to participate in a community composting program. Often associated with local farms and gardens, these programs typically accept food scraps from community members via drop-off.
The Where to Compost Guide on Litterless.com includes both pickup services as well as several drop-off listings by state and city. (U.S. only)
ShareWaste is another great tool for helping people find nearby places to drop off food scraps and other organics for composting. Farms and individuals who need more compostable waste can sign up to become drop-off locations, too!
When it comes to home composting, there are several different ways to go about it! Here are some of the most common DIY composting methods used today:
Compost bins and tumblers are popular for those with some yard space (or even just a patio!) who want a compact, easy-to-install system. These systems don’t typically require much maintenance other than the occasional turning or stirring for aeration. The finished compost becomes an excellent fertilizer for gardens and flower beds!
Eco-Tip: As an extra eco-friendly feature, consider compost bins and tumblers made from recycled plastic.
These systems are installed partially underground, often within or adjacent to a vegetable or flower garden. Subpod is a popular underground worm farm and composting system that comes in various sizes. This company even offers a mobile system for balconies, decks, and patios. In addition to buying a pre-built system, there are also ways to make DIY in-ground composting systems using just a few basic materials.
Creating a simple compost heap can be a great solution when space and aesthetics aren’t an issue. This method involves letting nature work its magic… no special equipment is required! All you need to do is pile dried leaves, fruit and vegetable scraps, and other organics in layers in a designated spot and watch the magic begin! Aside from the occasional turning to increase airflow, everything breaks down naturally over time.
Note: Since compost heaps are out in the open, they can attract small visitors – so it’s best to set these up in a spot where this won’t be an issue.
Also known as the dig-and-drop method, trench composting works just as its name suggests. It involves digging holes or trenches, adding food scraps and other organics, and burying them with soil. There are several different methods of trench composting, and lots of helpful details can be found online. Trench composting requires no initial setup or costly equipment and is ideal for larger yard spaces and gardens!
Vermicomposting uses specific types of earthworms to decompose organic materials into super-nutrient-rich material called vermicompost. Often used indoors when outdoor composting isn’t possible, vermicomposting can also work outside in shady locations. This method may sound unconventional for those newer to the composting world. But, for many, starting a worm farm and feeding it food scraps can become a fascinating and fun hobby!
Backyard solar digesters like The Green Cone can be another great option for recycling organic waste at home. It’s important to note that solar digesters are unlike other composting methods, and because of their design, they can break down many types of organics that don’t typically go in regular compost bins and tumblers. This can include dairy, meat, bones, and even pet waste. Because of their limited size, they can only handle a certain amount of material daily – and can’t be used for yard trimmings. Read more about The Green Cone here.
Check out the All About Composting: Videos & Resources page at Going Greener Today.
Check out these other posts:
The quick start guide to Going Greener: Shrink your footprint today!
Skip single-use on the go: Bring these reusables along with you!
Explore and Learn More:
Composting in America | U.S. PIRG & Frontier Group
Composting | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Compost Resources | Compost Research & Education Foundation
**Add pic, meta, focus keyphrase** ***NEEDS REORGANIZATION/SIMPLIFICATION
**For more reference and details?
If we think about all of the different types of things that people commonly throw away, they can be generally divided into two main categories.
Organic wastes: Food scraps, paper, cotton, leaves… anything that comes from a plant or animal!)
Organic waste: Things that were once part of living things such as food scraps, wood, paper & cardboard, and yard trimmings.
Inorganic waste: Metals, Glass, *plastic (Even though it is made from fossil fuels which are organic compounds, the chemical manufacturing process makes them very durable… and therefore not
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/how-to-compost?
https://www.bbg.org/gardening/article/how_compost_builds_the_soil
https://www.fao.org/soils-2015/news/news-detail/en/c/280674/
https://www.compostingcouncil.org/page/CompostBenefits
https://www.compostingcouncil.org/page/ClimateChangeBenefits
In recent years, the practice of composting has been gaining lots of attention. The process of using recycling organic matter to maintain soil health has long been known by organic farmers and avid gardeners. was mainly thought of as something gardeners or farmers might do to create healthier soil for their plants. ocused on in the farming and gardening is widely known for its benefits in gardening and organic farming. This simple practice involves separating organic waste items and allowing them to break down naturally in the presence of oxygen so their nutrients can be returned to the soil. Commonly referred to as “black gold”, the resulting nutrient-dense compost is an amazing natural fertilizer results from this process is commonly referred to as “black gold” in the gardening world.
And while composting is definitely a great companion activity to growing plants, this natural recycling process has been gaining a lot of attention in recent years for the role it can play in reducing our impact on the environment.
Not only does composting help to preserve valuable nutrients that all of life – including people – depends on to grow… It also helps to boost soil health, curb greenhouse gas emissions, and dramatically reduce the amount of “waste” we need to deal with in the first place!
In order to really understand why composting is good for our environment, we first need to take a close look at what happens in nature.
In nature, fallen leaves, branches, fruit, and other materials that were once part of living things are slowly broken down by insects, fungi, microorganisms, and a whole community of other decomposers in the soil. Through the decomposition process, nutrients from organic matter are recycled back into the soil and used again by other living things to grow. This is nature’s way of recycling… It works like a perfect cycle, and nothing goes to waste.
By not allowing organic materials to break down naturally and return to the soil, If we really stop to think about it, banana peels and apple cores that are sealed in bags and closed off from the rest of the environment in a landfill don’t stand a chance of rejoining the natural environment where they came from. Every time organic materials are buried or burned, the nutrients contained within them become lost… forever.
Every day, unimaginable amounts of food items and other organics such as paper, cardboard, wood, leaves, and other yard trimmings are dumped into landfills. In fact, the latest figures from the EPA showed that together, these categories of organic waste made up just over half of all landfilled waste in 2018.
When food scraps and other organic matter end up trapped in landfills, they can’t break down in the same way that they would in nature. Not only does this cause the loss of nutrients from natural cycles, but also leads to another huge environmental problem: In sealed environments without exposure to oxygen, organic material slowly releases methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas.
According to the U.S. EPA, methane from landfills accounted for 14.5% of total methane emissions in the U.S. in 2020. This is approximately the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions that would be emitted by 20.3 million passenger vehicles driven for one year! (Source: U.S. EPA)
Not to mention, all of the discarded food and other organics take up enormous amounts of landfill space!
On the other hand, when materials that were once part of living things are allowed to break down naturally with exposure to oxygen, their nutrients can be recycled back into the soil and used by new plants to grow.
Until recent years, composting was mainly talked about in reference to farming and gardening. But this is not the case anymore! Composting has become widely known around the world as an essential climate-regulating, sustainable practice.
Composting is an activity that many avid gardeners know well. And while nutrient-rich compost, also known as “black gold”, definitely helps to boost soil and garden health, the benefits of composting go far beyond this!
When organic materials like food scraps are thrown away and either burned or buried in a landfill, they become lost from natural cycles forever. And when we really stop to think about it, it’s easy to understand why we just can’t continue throwing away valuable nutrients that all of life depends on… We must preserve them and give them back to the Earth!
What once started as a basic farming and gardening practice to grow healthier plants, composting is now recognized as an essential practice that everyone, everywhere should be doing to preserve the very nutrients that plants depend on to grow…
MODIFY? **Compared to many other places around the world, much of the U.S. is way behind when it comes to separating waste and composting organics. Mention cities, Vermont… but we have a long way to go
And it turns out, over recent years, we have realized that there are actually many HUGE reasons behind the case for composting:
***ADd info from this link*** https://www.planetnatural.com/composting-101/soil-science/compost-soil/ REMOVE THIS LINK
***GOOD***Whether food scraps are composted at home, sent off with a curbside composting service each week, or dropped off at a local collection site, the same overall goal is accomplished: Materials that were once part of living things are kept out of landfills where they release potent greenhouse gases in the form of methane, and instead, they are given the chance to break down naturally and be returned to Earth’s natural cycles so they can be used again.
Final thoughts— move somewhere else/another post??
Related Posts:
***Include composting post links
Explore More:
The Compost Story | Kiss the Ground (Video, <7 min)
How composting can reduce our impact on the planet | UN Environment Programme
Composting 101 | Natural Resources Defense Council
Why is Composting Good for the Environment? | SciToons (Video, <2 min)
**Working
When it comes to things we can do to live more sustainably, composting is definitely a biggie!
This super Earth-friendly practice has a wide range of benefits, not only for our planet and nature but also for us as individuals.
In a nutshell, composting involves separating organic waste materials (i.e., anything from plant and animal sources) and allowing them to break down naturally so their nutrients can be returned and recycled back into the soil and used again by other living things to grow. Through composting, we ensure that things from the living world end up back in the living world where they came from… instead of going to waste in a landfill or incinerator.
Common compostable items include fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, dried leaves, paper, and cardboard. As the composting movement has grown over recent years, so have our composting options! Many areas now have access to curbside composting services or community composting sites where people can drop off their organics for composting. When time and space allow, many people choose to compost right in their backyards… and there are even ways to compost indoors!
For more posts all about composting, check out the links at the bottom of this post.
The answer to this question is undoubtedly YES!
Ready to hear more? Here are 9 great reasons to make composting a part of your daily routine.
A big portion of what Americans throw away comes from plant and animal sources and is 100% biodegradable. This includes huge amounts of discarded food, yard trimmings, wood, paper, and cardboard products. In fact, 2018 figures from the U.S. EPA show that just over half of all material being sent to landfills across the U.S. falls under these categories.
This is a big problem! Here’s why: When food scraps, dried leaves, and other organics end up trapped in plastic garbage bags with non-biodegradablewaste and then buried in landfills, they become lost from Earth’s natural cycles. Without access to enough oxygen, they can’t break down and be recycled the same way they would in nature.
It essentially mimics the decomposition process in nature. It’s another kind of recycling… nature’s way!
Through composting, we can ensure that what came from the living world is returned to the environment, where it can rejoin natural cycles and be used again.
Here’s the thing: Food, leaves, and paper in landfills can’t break down aerobically (i.e., in the presence of oxygen) like they would in nature. Trapped in plastic bags with other non-biodegradable waste in a sealed landfill, organic waste begins to rot anaerobically… and this process produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
So simply by composting our organic waste instead of throwing it away, we can instantly reduce our carbon footprint!
When organic materials become trapped in a landfill environment, it’s impossible for the nutrients inside them to rejoin Earth’s natural cycles. Trapped in a sealed landfill environment, they become lost forever.
Composting essentially helps to preserve the nutrients contained within plant and animal materials. When we allow them to break down naturally, they eventually form a dark, Earthy-smelling, crumbly mixture called compost. This nutrient-rich finished compost can be added back into the soil as a natural fertilizer for plants.
There’s a good reason why compost is commonly called “black gold,” and that composting is such a popular activity among gardeners!
4. Compost improves soil health in many different ways:
Compost is not only an amazing natural fertilizer. It also helps to improve overall soil structure and function in these ways:
This is an obvious one. By composting organics such as food waste, yard trimmings, paper, and cardboard instead of throwing them away, landfills don’t fill up as quickly. Since landfills are often located in remote, natural areas, reducing the amount of space needed for landfills helps to protect natural lands and the wildlife that depend on them.
6. It adds fresh air and exercise to your routine
7. Educational… and fascinating!
8. Connects you to the Earth
Here is another added bonus of composting: When you don’t throw food waste in the garbage bin, you eliminate all kinds of unpleasant garbage-related kitchen odors! Take banana peels, for example. Put them in a plastic-lined garbage can, and they can get pretty smelly fast. Put them in the compost (or just bury them in the garden), and they won’t smell at all!
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
These days, we encounter all kinds of single-use items while on the go. Whether it’s plastic grocery bags, water bottles, straws, disposable cups, or plastic utensils… it can be hard to avoid them if we aren’t prepared!
Back when single-use plastics and other disposables were first invented, their purpose was to make our lives easier.
But today, we are much more aware of the enormous toll these “use-and-toss” products take on our planet. They use up resources, cause pollution, contribute to climate change, and create massive amounts of waste. Many single-use items cannot be easily recycled… if they can even be recycled at all. So, most get tossed in the garbage or end up in the environment as litter after just one quick use. Unimaginable amounts of single-use plastics find their way into the ocean, threatening the health and safety of birds, mammals, and other marine life. Over time, plastic drifting around in the environment can break down into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually forming microplastics. These tiny plastic fragments have found their way all around the environment, and there’s a lot we don’t yet know and understand about their effects on humans and the natural world.
While picking up litter is always a great way to help protect our environment, we can all do our part to address this problem by avoiding wasteful disposable items in the first place as much as possible.
This could seem challenging, considering the number of single-use plastic items handed out in grocery stores, coffee shops, and restaurants today. But shrinking our plastic footprint can be much simpler than we think. All it takes is a little conscious effort and planning!
Whether heading out for a few hours or going on vacation, leaving prepared with a few reusable essentials enables you to bypass all kinds of wasteful single-use items that might otherwise come your way. This Earth-friendly routine can take some dedication and practice until it becomes a regular habit. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll quickly see the difference this little habit makes. Disposables you once might have used out of habit and convenience suddenly won’t be necessary, and you won’t find yourself throwing so much away.
Read on to learn about some essential reusables that can help you dodge the disposables the next time you’re out and about!
Avoid taking home all those single-use plastic bags after each shopping trip by bringing your own reusable shopping bags and produce bags every time you head out the door. These handy reusable totes can go along with you anywhere you need a bag—not just the grocery store! Don’t have reusable bags yet? You can often find them right near the checkout counter.
Eco Tip: Keep your reusable bags by your door or in your car to help you remember and be more prepared whenever you might need them!
Did you know?
-Plastic bags drifting around in the ocean are easily mistaken for food by marine animals. They are considered one of the deadliest forms of marine litter, next to abandoned fishing gear.
-Plastic grocery bags were the 5th most common form of marine litter found during the latest International Coastal Cleanup.
Eco-Tip: Although plastic bags can be recycled in some areas, avoiding them whenever possible is a much more eco-friendly option!
Instead of buying cases of water in single-use plastic bottles, keep a reusable bottle handy and fill it throughout the day! This simple eco-friendly habit can save you money and lots of plastic.
Did you know?
-According to the latest figures published by the EPA, only around 30% of plastic bottles are recycled in the U.S. The rest are buried in landfills, burned in incinerators, or litter Earth’s land and waterways.
-Plastic bottles were the second most common item found during the last International Coastal Cleanup, followed closely by plastic bottle caps at #3.
-Even when plastic bottles are recycled, most are downcycled into other kinds of products instead of new bottles. So, while recycling plastic bottles is much more eco-friendly than just throwing them away, the amount of plastic created to make new single-use bottles keeps climbing. More plastic means more pollution, resources, waste, and litter!
Do you often buy coffee or other fountain drinks in disposable cups while out and about? You can avoid using those wasteful single-use cups and lids by bringing your reusable mug or cup (or both!) from home. Many coffee shops now encourage customers to use their own cups by offering a small discount.
Did you know?
-Americans use an estimated 120 billion disposable foam, paper, and plastic cups annually. This habit uses up resources and creates a lot of (often avoidable) waste! Replacing just one disposable cup with a reusable cup or mug once a day for a year can have a huge impact. Check out this eye-opening infographic to learn more.
If you prefer to use a straw while enjoying drinks away from home, why not skip the single-use plastic (or paper) straw and bring a reusable one instead? These days, you can choose from all kinds of reusable straw options, and some even come with a handy pouch or case for carrying on the go.
Did you know?
-Americans go through millions of single-use straws every single day. After only a few quick sips, most of these little plastic tubes end up in the garbage… but many also end up on the loose in the environment as litter.
-Their small size makes them especially harmful to wildlife, including sea turtles, fish, birds, and other marine life. Straws and stirrers were the 9th most common type of ocean trash found during the most recent International Coastal Cleanup.
Get Involved! Learn more about the Ocean Conservancy’s Skip the Straw campaign and take the pledge to say “No thank you” to plastic straws!
There is no need for wasteful single-use plastic utensils while eating on the go when you have your own set handy! By keeping a few extra sets in your car and/or at work, you’ll be ready whenever you need them.
Did you know?
-Their mass production began in the 1950s, and now we use billions of disposable plastic utensils worldwide each year.
-Along with plastic bags, plastic utensils have become one of the most dangerous forms of single-use plastic for marine life.
Do you often have leftovers when you dine out? Take them home in a container from home! By keeping a clean container or two ready in your car, you can easily avoid those bulky foam and plastic single-use containers often given out at restaurants.
Did you know?
-Like many single-use plastic items, foam and plastic takeaway containers typically can’t be recycled through curbside recycling programs. So, they are usually dumped into landfills or become litter.
-Polystyrene (a.k.a. Styrofoam) containers are especially harmful to our planet. This lightweight material easily breaks into fragments and creates a huge mess when it ends up out on the loose in the environment. Many places around the U.S. have taken the initiative to reduce the use of polystyrene through bans—and have seen successful results!
Incorporating these and other reusables into your daily routine lets you easily dodge single-use items that might otherwise cross your path during the day. Over time, these small, eco-conscious actions can really add up! Each single-use item you avoid makes a difference in shrinking your environmental footprint and helps to protect our planet.
Help spread the word! Share your favorite reusables, sustainable swaps, and success stories with others on social media, and tag #goinggreenertoday
Check out these other posts:
The quick start guide to Going Greener: Reduce your footprint today!
Curious about composting? Details, options, and how to get started!
Explore and Learn More:
Single-Use Plastics 101 | NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Plastic Calculator | Earthday.org
Our planet is choking on plastic | UN Environment Programme
Fighting for Trash Free Seas: Plastics in the Ocean | The Ocean Conservancy
Bring other kicthen post back in!!
**Add photo and meta!**
The kitchen is one place in the home where our environmental impact can really add up – especially if we’re not consciously taking time to think about it. We have lots of choices when it comes to the products we use, how we buy them and bring them home, and what we do with the things we no longer need. And the truth is, each and every choice we make can add up to have an effect on how big… or small… our overall “footprint” might be.
–Reducing plastic – plastic-free swaps– refer to other article
-Avoid single-use & get in the habit of using reusables!
-Reduce use of paper products- 100% recycled or bamboo – suggest Swedish dish cloths or reusable bamboo towels
-Composting
-Recycling right – copy over from other kitchen article
-Watch ingredients and packaging
**Below copied from other article– combine with above!
-Plastic-free dish soap, compostable sponges/cloths, plastic-free brushes
-Reduce paper towel use, and opt for paper towels made from recycled paper or other tree-free alternatives like bamboo
Reusable, natural fiber cloths or washable napkins can take the place of single-use paper towels in many cases
-Choose reusable basics over single-use – plates, utensils, cups, wraps, bags
Containers– wax wraps, bowl covers
-Reusable storage bags
-Avoid disposable convenience products such as crockpot and air fryer liners, etc
-Reusable on-the-go essentials– cups, coffee mugs, water bottle, produce & grocery bags
-Countertop compost bin – fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds, compostable parchment paper, wooden toothpicks, paper towels/cardboard roll (unbleached, no chemicals)
-Jars & canisters for food storage
Note: Many of the eco-swaps mentioned in this article are compostable at the end of their useful life. While “home compostable” products can break down and be recycled back into the soil through the practice of composting, they will not break down the same way if they end up trapped under layers of trash in a landfill without exposure to oxygen. To learn more about composting, see related post links at the bottom of this page.
If you are looking for ways to go greener in your kitchen, here are some easy tips and swaps to help you get started!
Reducing the use of single-use plastic
It is now widely known that plastic waste is causing serious problems for our planet. Plastics are finding their way into our Earth’s oceans at an alarming rate of 8 million metric tons each year, and it has been predicted that if things continue at the current pace, there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean by the year 2050.
Although this might sound like a very discouraging statistic, there are easy things everyone can be doing to help with this problem… and the more people do their part, the bigger difference it will make!
The first big step we can take is working towards reducing the use of single-use plastics in our everyday lives as much as we can, and recycling any of these items we do find ourselves with whenever possible.
Use reusable shopping and produce bags
You can easily cut back on your use of plastic bags by bringing reusable shopping bags and produce bags with you whenever you stop to shop. In support of the growing movement to cut back on single-use plastics, many grocery stores and other retailers have started selling reusable bags near their checkout counters and encourage customers to bring their own bags from home.
This applies to when you buy fresh produce, too. Instead of reaching for that roll of plastic bags in the produce section each time you get fruits and veggies, you can use your own reusable drawstring bags to carry them home, such as these available on EarthHero, or these, found on Amazon.
*Recycling Tip: Since plastic bags are often not accepted through curbside recycling collection programs, be sure to bring any grocery or produce bags you do collect at home to your local store drop-off recycling bin. Find your nearest plastic bag drop-off bin here.
Replace disposable plastic food storage wraps and resealable bags with reusable options
Just as we need to try and reduce -or better yet, eliminate– single-use plastic bags from our daily lives, the same goes for disposable plastic wraps and food storage bags that are commonly found in today’s kitchens.
Swap plastic wrap for beeswax wraps
Single-use plastic wrap used to cover and store food is often only used for a short time before it is tossed into the trash bin. Reusable beeswax wraps such as these can be used to replace disposable plastic wrap for covering containers and storing food. After they are used, they can be rinsed or wiped down and stored until the next time you need them.
Swap single-use food storage bags for reusable bags
Disposable plastic snack and food storage bags can be easily swapped with reusable food storage bags such as these resealable storage bags, by Full Circle Home, which can be used over and over again. Another option are these Stasher brand reusable bags, which are made with 100% pure silicone and come in many different sizes and colors.
Thanks to these handy little “eco-tools”, there is no need to keep buying those single-use plastic wraps and storage bags and sending them to the landfill!
When it comes to cleaning your dishes, try these eco-friendly alternatives
Plastic-free dishwasher tabs
To replace traditional dishwasher tablets that come wrapped in plastic and stored in bulky plastic containers, you can opt for plastic-free, more natural alternatives such as these Beyond Natural Dishwasher Tablets, available from Amazon. They are made with 75% Biobased materials and are fragrance-free, dye free and chlorine-free. They come in a small recyclable box, too!
For hand-washing dishes, try solid dish soap… in a box
Solid dish soap blocks have emerged as a popular replacement for traditional dish soaps in squeezable plastic bottles. One popular option is this dish soap bar by Meliora, which made with natural, non-toxic ingredients, and comes in a small box that can be recycled or composted.
If you do make the switch to a solid dish soap, you will need a double layer soap dish that allows water to drain away from the bar for your kitchen counter.
Sponges made with natural fibers
Instead of using brightly-colored synthetic sponges that end up in the garbage when they get worn out, there are many natural, more earth-friendly options available when it comes to washing your dishes.
These Terraquip zero-waste eco-friendly sponges are made of sustainable plant cellulose and coconut fibers… no plastic here! Since they are made with 100% natural plant materials, they can be cut up into small pieces and added to your home compost when the time comes for a fresh sponge.
Another alternative are these Heirloom Mayan Loofah Scrubbers, available on EarthHero. They are 100% natural, zero-waste, and compostable!
Plant-based dish cloths
For those who prefer to use a cloth for washing their dishes, Swedish dish cloths such as these (Skoy 4-pack or 10-pack) are a great option! They are machine-washable, fast-drying (which helps to prevent odors), and can be composted when it’s time to replace them with a new cloth. These long-lasting cloths can be used for all kinds of things around the home besides washing dishes, including as a replacement for disposable paper towels.
Plastic-free dish brushes
If you like using a dish brush to clean your dishes, this Redecker handcrafted dish brush is a great option for a plastic-free tool in your kitchen. Made from sustainably harvested wood and plant fiber bristles, this brush is designed so that the head is replaceable once it wears out. And best of all, the head and bristles are compostable.
Eco-friendly swaps for traditional paper towels
Americans use the most -and spend the most– on paper towels compared to any other country in the world. As with other disposable paper products commonly used today, paper towels require a lot of resources to make… from the water needed for trees to grow water and energy to make. require most paper towels found on store shelves today are made from the wood pulp of trees. We all know that trees need a lot of water to grow… These trees require a lot of water to grow, we many major paper towel manufacturers are still getting their wood pulp by cutting down established, old growth forests? This means that our planet’s climate-regulating forest ecosystems are being destroyed to make roll upon roll of paper towels, which are only used once and then thrown away.*
The good news is, you can help with this problem and dramatically cut back on (or even eliminate!) your household’s paper towel usage… and save a lot of money in the process, too!
Washable, reusable cloths made of natural fibers
Plant-based Swedish cloths such as these, made by Feel More Green or these made by Skoy are a perfect eco-friendly option for replacing disposable paper towels. Since they need to be damp in order to use them, they do a great job of cleaning sticky mouths and fingers, too! These cloths can be rinsed and reused, are machine washable, and can be composted once they get worn out.
Eco Note: According to these manufacturers, one single Swedish cloth can replace up to 15 rolls of paper towels! It’s easy to see how this simple swap can make a big difference when it comes to shrinking our footprint on the environment.
Cloth napkins
This one may seem obvious, but we many of us have become so used to reaching for disposable napkins for meals at home and on-the-go that we often forget about the good old-fashioned cloth napkin that can be washed and reused, over and over again.
“Deforestation-free” paper towel options
If you still find yourself needing paper-based single-use paper towels or napkins on occasion, here are a few more eco-friendly options that do not contribute to the destruction of mature forests to make them.
100% recycled paper towels can be found in many grocery and big box stores, natural grocery stores, and online. Some brands, such as Seventh Generation, even offer unbleached paper towels for a more natural option.
Alternative, tree-free paper towels are also available online and in some specialty natural grocery stores. Instead of using wood pulp from trees, these are made with fibers from fast-growing plants such as bamboo or sugar cane, making them a sustainable alternative to most disposable paper products available today.
When you are done with them, these paper towels can usually be added to your home compost bin so they can break down naturally and be returned to the soil. The exception, of course, would be if they were used to wipe up potentially toxic chemicals or other materials that may not be safe to compost.
Recycling Note: Ideally, these more eco-friendly paper towel alternatives would come wrapped in recyclable paper packaging… but if you do find them wrapped in plastic, be sure to recycle the plastic overwrap along with any other plastic bags you may need to get rid of at your local store drop off location. This way, they won’t end up contributing to our planet’s plastic pollution problem.
Alternatives to liquid hand soap in single-use plastic containers
Of course, natural bar soaps in paper-based packaging are always a great eco-friendly way to wash your hands… The small box or paper wrapper they come in can be recycled or composted, they are lighter to ship (reducing their carbon footprint), don’t involve plastic packaging, and when they are all used up, there is no waste. Now that is truly “green”!
But in the kitchen, many people prefer a pump-style liquid soap for faster and easier handwashing option. Did you know that a major ingredient in store-bought liquid hand soaps is water, and many of these products contain chemical ingredients that may be harmful to our health? (Check out the ThinkDirty app to learn more.)
When it comes to the environment, pump tops on plastic containers are often not recyclable, which means they add to our already growing problem of plastic pollution. On top of that, the bulky products we buy in single-use containers use up more resources in their manufacturing and are heavier to ship around, making their carbon footprint higher compared to other more Earth-friendly alternatives. Not to mention, hand soaps in plastic containers can get pretty expensive!
Make your own liquid and foaming hand soap
For a more eco-friendly alternative to store-bought pump soaps, liquid hand soap (regular or foaming) can easily be made at home by mixing small amounts of concentrated castile soap with water in a reusable soap dispenser. Castile soap is well-known for its all-natural, non-toxic, vegetable-based ingredients. It is biodegradable too, making it much safer for our environment compared to other soaps that contain synthetic ingredients. Besides making hand soap, this versatile soap has a long list of other great uses around the home, too.
Thanks to this awesome and easy eco-swap, there is no need to keep buying new liquid soap dispensers when you run out!
You can find many variations on how to make your own natural liquid hand soap online, depending on the consistency, texture and scent of soap you prefer. Some recipes even include things like honey, almond oil, and various essential oils.
Last Stop: The Garbage Can
When you really stop to think about it, it isn’t really possible to make the words “trash” and “eco-friendly” go together. While we can make the bag itself more Earth-friendly, the contents, no matter what they are and how we look at it, are on their way to being wasted. Gone, forever.
So before we talk about the ideal type of trash bag when it comes to our environment, the very first thing to always keep in mind is trying to cut back on trash from the source. (This is easier than many might think by incorporating composting, eco-conscious shopping & avoiding disposables, and effective recycling!)
In recent years, trash bags have been getting more attention in the environmental world… not only for because of the waste they contain, but the fact that they are made with… well, plastic. And in response to the growing demand for more Earth-friendly, plastic-free products, several new options have emerged as alternatives to the traditional tall kitchen trash bag.
Today, you can find quite a variety of “alternative” trash bags out there:
There are some made from 100% recycled plastic, which makes them a little more eco-friendly, since they do not involve any new plastic and are made from plastic that already existed. But in the end, they are still made of plastic that’s going to end up in a landfill or perhands on the loose in the environment.
Then you have bags that are made from “biodegradable” plastic, but these often still take a long time to break down, especially when they are stuck in a landfill.
People also now have the option of plant-based bags that are truly home compostable, and while these may be considered by some as the most “eco-friendly” options for a garbage bag since they don’t add any new plastic to our environment, they also don’t break down properly when they end up in the landfill. And even through the bags themselves would break down if you buried them in your garden, the garbage inside of them would not.
Some people who compost all of their food wastes have switched to using cloth garbage can liners that can be washed and reused again and again. And some don’t even use any type of bag at all! (Some municipalities, though, may require household garbage to be contained for collection.)
Although the idea of getting to the point of “Zero Waste” (or even near Zero-Waste) might sound totally impossible to most when they first think about it, by following the 5 R’s—Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot (a.k.a. Composting), households can gradually find themselves having less and less to throw away.
But as people work towards reducing their household waste, many eventually find themselves getting to the point of barely throwing anything away. Then, the need for an actual garbage can (especially a large one!) in your kitchen slowly fades away.
form of a bag, since they can break down under natural conditions and leave no pollution behind. There are even reusable, washable trash bags available online, and some near “zero wasters” out there even report just transfering the small amount of waste they do have directly into the curbside collection bin, eliminating the need for a bag altogether. (Note: Some municipalities may require trash to be contained in a bag for collection.)
But even though recycled, reusable, or compostable bags may offer various green advantages over traditional plastic trash bags, we can’t ignore reality: Trash is trash, no matter what type of a bag it’s held in (or not held in). And the truth is, when the things we throw away are sealed in a landfill, they will often just sit there, trapped in time. (Link to article about recognizable waste in a landfill.)
So when it comes to category of garbage bags, the true challenge is less about what type of bag is being used and more about reducing what we are putting in them in the first place.
And this bring us to what may be the biggest “eco-swap” for the kitchen: Reducing the need for a typical large kitchen garbage bin and replacing it with composting and recycling collection containers, leaving very little “waste” to send to the landfill.
With that said, even though there are many steps people can take to dramatically reduce their household waste, it’s probably realistic to think- at least for the very near future, anyway- that most will still find themselves with at least a few non-recyclable and non-compostable things that they need to “throw away” in their kitchen waste bins.
So if you are working towards a low-waste lifestyle and are interested in using a more eco-friendly alternative to the typical plastic bag, here are a few suggestions:
These certified home compostable bags from Green Earth are available in typical 13-gallon size, or they also have smaller sizes such as these 3 gallon bags… just in case you end up finding yourself not needing those big trash bags anymore!
100% recycled plastic bags on EarthHero
Hopefully, as companies and individuals move towards more sustainable practices and new recycling programs become available, the large kitchen trash bin can truly become a thing of the past… Sound impossible? The people living in this small Japanese village can help to inspire us all: Post YouTube video Link to zero waste town in Japan “Great Big Story” version
Being aware of more eco-friendly options is the first step towards achieving a more sustainable lifestyle. But trying to change everything at once can seem overwhelming! Make gradual changes, and get used to new habits and products before moving on to the next small change. As more and more people take greener steps towards making greener choices over time can add up to make a huge difference in helping to protect the health of our to turn around round many of the problems. And as your footsteps on the environment get lighter and lighter, you might even find yourself feeling better about your personal impact on the Earth, too!
Related posts:
What’s your environmental footprint? (And how to shrink it)
6 Eco-friendly on-the-go essentials
Wait! Before you toss that banana peel into the trash… the growing trend towards composting
Curious about composting? Start recycling “Nature’s Way” today!
Plastic Pollution: Why we all need to act now
Explore and Learn more:
https://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/plastic_ingestion_press_singles.pdf
Natural Resource Defense Council- The Issue with Tissue Product Scorecard
https://www.nrdc.org/experts/anthony-swift/nrdc-report-calls-canada-protect-boreal-forest-0
WWF Plastic scorecard
https://www.unenvironment.org/interactive/beat-plastic-pollution/
https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/planet-earth/waste/plastic-bags-used-per-year/story
We know that single-use plastics aren’t good for our environment. They use up resources, cause pollution, harm wildlife, and break up into tiny pieces that can end up in the food chain. And if we think about the single-use plastics We hear a lot these days about the need to avoid single-use plastics like straws, bags, and water bottles to protect wildlife and our environment. But there’s another category of single-use plastics that doesn’t get as much attention: Food packaging!
Thankfully, many food and product manufacturers have started stepping up to address the serious issue of plastic pollution. Today, we can find an array of eco-friendly packaging options on store shelves, whether plastic-free, refillable, compostable, recycled, or more recyclable. While this progress is definitely a trend in the right direction, we still have a long way to go when it comes to tackling plastic waste.
As consumers, there are all kinds of ways to shrink our plastic footprint when it comes to packaging waste and our overall shopping habits. We have choices when it comes to which products we buy, what we do with the packaging waste they create, and even how we bring them home.
If you are looking for ways to become a more eco-conscious consumer and reduce your plastic footprint, check out these 8 tips and resources below!
When you have your own produce bags from home, there’s no need to reach for those rolls of single-use produce bags and twist ties at the grocery store! Since mesh produce bags are breathable, they’re also great for storing produce in the fridge until you are ready to use it. These handy little bags can be found online, in home goods stores, and sometimes right in the produce section.
Depending on the size of the produce section, we may have a choice of how we buy certain items. The typical choice is this: plastic-wrapped or unpackaged. For an Earth-friendly option, choose plastic-free, loose produce whenever possible—and then bring it home in your reusable produce bags instead. If it’s in season and locally grown, even better!
Want to find more options for fresh, locally-grown produce? Visit Local Harvest to find your nearest farmer’s markets, U-pick farms, and more! U.S. only
Zero-waste grocery stores have become increasingly popular all around the world in recent years. This is great news for us and our planet! But even if you live in an area where these stores aren’t found (yet!), you still might have options! Many grocery stores offer bulk sections where customers can buy just what they need and bring it home in their own bags or containers. (Use the zero-waste shopping links below to help you find them!)
This can include coffee, grains, nuts, pasta, rice, legumes, spices, and other types of dry goods. In some stores with bulk food sections, you can even grind your own fresh nut butter! The main thing to remember is to weigh your empty containers, jars, and bags before filling them up so their weight can be subtracted before you pay for them.
Aren’t sure where to find package-free shopping options in your area? Use these great online guides below:
U.S. Bulk Food Stores List | Zero Waste California
Zero Waste Home Bulk Finder | Zero Waste Home
Zero Waste Grocery Guide | Litterless
Many products are over-packaged just for convenience… at the expense of our environment. If a certain product creates a lot of waste for just a small serving of food or drink, for example, chances are that there could be a more Earth-friendly way to buy it. (For example, when buying soup broth, there may be the option to buy it ready-made in large cartons or in a concentrated form in a small jar… choosing the jar option not only creates significantly less waste, but also allows you to make just the right amount and can be much more economical.)
A good rule of thumb is to look for the most amount of product in the least amount of packaging.
Paper, cardboard, metal, and glass are often easier to recycle than many kinds of plastic, but what can and can’t be recycled through curbside collection programs varies widely from area to area.
Some of these items pictured above can be more easily recycled than others.
For any specific items you are not sure about, it’s always a good idea to contact your local recycling company to find out if they accept them. If they can’t take certain materials, such as glass or specific types of plastics, you might find a recycling center or other location nearby where you can take them instead. Search Earth911 to find your closest recycling options.
This one might take some getting used to at first, but it can quickly become habit and is a great way to avoid bringing home all of those extra containers and bags. Just be sure to weigh your container before you fill it up, so the weight can be subtracted at checkout! If you do this enough at the same store, who knows… you might even help to inspire others and start a new local trend.
Plastic “clamshell” style containers often provided at salad bars can be trickier to recycle and often end up in the landfill.
Did you know? See-through plastic “clamshell” containers that often contain salads, desserts, and fresh berries are often not accepted through curbside recycling programs in many areas, even though they have that little triangle on the bottom. This means that even if they are placed in the blue bin, they could be ending up in a landfill down the road. The best way to handle this is to try and avoid using them whenever we can!
Check with your local recycling collection company to find out how clamshells are handled in your area. If they aren’t accepted, you can search Earth911 to see if there are other nearby recycling options.
The average American shopper goes through a lot of plastic bags, and switching to reusable bags is a quick and easy way to dramatically cut back on your plastic use!
If you don’t have reusable bags yet, they can often be found for sale right by the checkout counter at your local grocery store. Many stores are now encouraging customers to use their own bags and even offer a small discount for each reusable bag they use. Reusable bags can be used for any type of shopping- not just groceries. The more times you can reuse the same bags again and again, the better!
Reusable Bag Tips:
If some of your favorite products come in too much unnecessary packaging or in a type of plastic that is hard to recycle, why not reach out to the companies that make them and suggest that they package their products in a more Earth-conscious way? If enough people reach out and say the same thing, we might see a positive change sooner than later!
The more each of us make small changes to help our planet, the bigger difference we can make… and the better off we all will be, together.
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
Products without packaging: How refill stores can help solve the plastics crisis | Frontier Group
Packaging waste 101: the problem | Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)
Single-Use Plastics 101 | Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
The world’s plastic pollution crisis explained | National Geographic
**ADD META*** Change number in title?
Move video to the end? or take out?
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-reduce-carbon-footprint
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-66238584 **Reference only– quote that stat from another source!
https://www.nrdc.org/bio/maria-mccain/plant-based-diet-healthier-us-and-our-planet#
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/food
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666833522000612 **Reference to plant-based meat alternatives
https://davidsuzuki.org/living-green/food-climate-change/
https://takethejump.org/eat-green
https://www.un.org/en/actnow/food
https://unfccc.int/blog/we-need-to-talk-about-meat
https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/food_practice/food_loss_and_waste/
https://explore.panda.org/food/how-to-eat-more-sustainably
https://wwf.medium.com/the-power-is-on-our-plates-d576bcbe15be
**Missing any other ways??**
When it comes to food, there are many things we can do to help shrink our environmental footprint.
-Eat local,- farmers market finder
-Grow your own fruits and veggies
-Reduce food waste
-Composting
-Reduce plastic packaging
-Choose organic when possible – when we buy organic, we are not only choosing to avoid extra chemicals that may be in our food and other products we buy. USDA-certified organic foods are also produced without genetically modified (GMO) seeds and other ingredients. Overall, buying organic supports farming practices that are kinder to our planet!
Check out EWG’s Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists to learn more about which conventionally grown (non-organic) fruits and veggies contain the most pesticide residues.
7. Adopt a planet-friendly diet
Of all the powerful things we can do to reduce our personal impact on the environment, what we eat can make one of the biggest differences.
Animal agriculture takes a massive toll on our planet- from all the land area it takes up, the pollution it creates, and the greenhouse gas emissions it produces. So, what can we do to help protect our planet, in a nutshell? The more we can reduce our consumption of animal products, the better. Explore WWF’s Planet-Based Diets Impact Action Calculator to learn more!
Looking for new plant-based recipe ideas?
Check out this episode of Jennifer Garner’s #PretendCookingShow, where she shares how to make Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili!
Explore your own food’s footprint with these online calculators:
Climate change food calculator: What’s your diet’s carbon footprint? | BBC
Planet-Based Diets Impact & Action Calculator | WWF
Other quizzes?? https://www.earthday.org/foodprints-calculators/
Explore and Learn More:
Planet-Based Diets | WWF
Foodprints for the Future | Earthday.org
The Positive Impact of Organic Foods | University of Colorado Environmental Center
https://ourworldindata.org/food-choice-vs-eating-local
9 Nutrition Tips for Reducing Your Carbon Footprint | Healthline
**Add pic, meta, and keyphrase
https://planetbaseddiets.panda.org/insights
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20221214-what-is-the-lowest-carbon-protein
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainability/articles/10.3389/frsus.2022.841106/full
https://www.wri.org/insights/sustainable-diets-what-you-need-know-12-charts
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9024616/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666833522000612
https://ourworldindata.org/food-choice-vs-eating-local
https://ourworldindata.org/environmental-impacts-of-food
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-023-00795-w
Living consciously with our Earth in mind can involve many different types of day-to-day choices. We can take steps to conserve energy and buy more eco-friendly products. Make an effort to avoid single-use plastics use and reduce how much we throw away. Avoid pesticides in our yards, and help to pick up litter. When it comes to taking good care of our planet, these sustainable actions have been widely known for a while.
But what about the foods that we eat? Do our food choices have an impact
***Change below!!
But as we learn more about how human actions impact the environment, we become more aware of what it takes to live more sustainably and reduce our individual footprints. And in recent years, our eyes become in recent years, a new Earth-conscious eating appearing regularly on sustainable living “to-do action” lists of how to live more sustainably. And today, it is widely recognized that making more sustainable food choices can make a positive difference in protecting not only our own health but also the health of our planet.
In October 2020, the World Wildlife Fund launched its Planet-Based Diets initiative to raise awareness about the links between our current global food system and many of the major environmental concerns facing us today. Using this interactive website, people can explore how various dietary choices impact the environment in terms of biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and impacts on freshwater resources based on the country where they live.
Here is a brief breakdown of this important WWF’s Planet-Based Diets initiative can teach us:
Shifting towards more Earth-conscious diets can help to protect and restore our environment in many ways, including:
Adopting a “Planet-Based” diet involves making conscious shifts not only to what we eat but also to how much of each type of food we consume. Here are some main pillars of WWF’s initiative:
To learn more, watch this short video:
Explore the Planet-Based Diets website and use the Planet-Based Diets Impact and Action Calculator to explore the environmental impact of various dietary choices based on where you live.
Together, each of our Earth-conscious food choices can add up to make a difference!
Related Posts:
Reducing the footprint of our food
Explore and Learn More:
Planet-Based Diets | WWF
Bending the Curve: The Restorative Power of Planet-Based Diets | WWF Report
Environmental Impacts of Food Production | Our World in Data
The Planetary Health Diet Report | EAT-Lancet Commission
Food and Climate Change: Healthy diets for a healthier planet | UN Climate Action
ActNow Climate Campain | Sustainable Recipes | UN Sustainable Development Goals
**Add pic and meta– change number in title?? Keep general – group similar swaps together
**Add link to Earth Day Plastic Calculator
https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/top-tips-reduce-your-plastic-footprint
Ideas: https://myplasticfreelife.com/plasticfreeguide/
SHopping
At Home
On-the-go
Shopping
Here are some of the main categories of single-use plastic that people encounter in their day-to-day lives:
-Disposable “convenience” plastics – easy to avoid if prepared with reusables
-Household/personal care products and packaging
-Food packaging
Let’s look at each one a little closer:
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/top-10-ways-reduce-plastic-footprint/
MOVE THIS TO SHOPPING POST ***If you want to go a little further, Bakery- bread in own reusable bag – or -Can you get fresh non-gmo tortillas and chips from local Mexican restaurant?
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
Plastic Calculator | EarthDay.org
NRDC- Single-use plastics
Include article or just reference?
10 of the most dangerous plastic products polluting our oceans
** Add pic, meta– keyphrase
May be 9 years old, but sends a powerful message about the problem with our dependence on plastic– and why we need to learn to live with less.
**Add meta- more tags?
A famous landfill study done back in revealed a shocking reality about what we are throwing away— cite article
NY Times article link– https://web.stanford.edu/group/archaeolog/GarbologyOnline/files/63674.pdf
https://sciencing.com/effects-landfills-environment-8662463.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-epa-needs-phase-out-food-waste-landfills-by-2040-local-officials-2023-10-31/
Methane
Toxic pollution
Waste of resources!!
**Add pic and meta, tags, Featured??
Quote study of food in landfills from decades ago- link https://web.stanford.edu/group/archaeolog/GarbologyOnline/files/63674.pdf
Here’s the thing… compostables will only be able to break down in the presence of oxygen and return to natural cycles if they are composted!
Article about food trapped in landfills: https://web.stanford.edu/group/archaeolog/GarbologyOnline/files/63674.pdf
**Combine with 7 Problems with landfills?”
**Pic and meta** Change name?
**Add meta- more tags?
https://sciencing.com/effects-landfills-environment-8662463.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-epa-needs-phase-out-food-waste-landfills-by-2040-local-officials-2023-10-31/
A famous landfill study done back in revealed a shocking reality about what we are throwing away— cite article
NY Times article link
Methane
Toxic pollution
Waste of resources!! — More wasted means more must be taken from Earth
Nutrients lost from natural cycles
Take up space– waste of land- take away natural land
No one wants to live near them
NOT a solution
Link to old article from newspaper– saved in link list!! https://web.stanford.edu/group/archaeolog/GarbologyOnline/files/63674.pdf
For content- linked in resources below:
https://www.thoughtco.com/do-biodegradable-items-really-break-down-1204144
Badly written (Twin Enviro below)- just get point ideas and research!
Related Posts:
Dissection of American landfill
Explore and Learn More:
Do Biodegradable Items Degrade in Landfills? | ThoughtCo.
Trailer: Wasted
**Add pic, meta, add tags? Alt title: Letting go of the “perfect” green grass lawn OR We must let go of the “perfect” grass lawn
History of short lawn
Ideas:
https://pollinatorplanet.com/no-mow-movement/
Use article for reference– do not include link
-Facts about impacts of traditional lawn maintenance– water use, pesticides, time
What if there was a way to shrink your lawn maintenance time, save money, and do something to help your planet all at the same time? There is!
a natural lawn. Conventional uniform grass lawns come with a heavy environmental footprint. They require lots of watering and mowing, and often get treated regularly with chemical pesticides and fertilizers. On top of all this, short turf grass lawns are essentially “dead zones” when it comes to biodiversity.
List benefits
-Maintenance of conventional yard
-Giving back to nature– share spaces they used to occupy
Trends in AZ and California?? Incentives to convert yards away from grass
-Making short maintained areas smaller, allowing other plants to fill in
Explore and Learn More:
No Mow May | Bee City USA
The No-Mow Movement | Urban Prevue
No Mow Movement | Pollinator Planet
Certify Your Habitat | National Wildlife Federation
Organic Lawn Care 101: Lawn Guru | Planet Natural Research Center
Organic Lawn Care 101 | Beyond Pesticides
**Add pic and meta*** Already started similar in word doc?? CHECK Research and add more Change number?
***Cut and paste #2 from recycling superstar post and use here!!!***
When it comes to being an effective recycler, there’s a lot to know!
Use the video below for info and stats– DELETE VIDEO LINK– not a good ending message!!!
1. Wishcycling is the act of sending items off in your recycling bin with the hope that they will be recycled… but you don’t really know for sure. one word? Define** – Find out what companies really take and use this as your starting point — explain that just because we put something in the blue bin, doesn’t actually mean it will be recycled — recyclable items get sorted at M– facility and the rest goes on to the landfill
Related Posts:
On-the-go essentials
Shopping tips to reduce waste
Explore and Learn More:
EPA Figures
Global Recycling Day
**Add meta**
Landfill Excavation Study- The Garbage Project
https://web.stanford.edu/group/archaeolog/GarbologyOnline/files/63674.pdf
Food waste-
Plastic bottles and other packaging
Glass-
Metal food and drink cans-
Great news- Nov 2021: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-releases-bold-national-strategy-transform-recycling-america
Related Posts:
Tips for plastic recycling
Explore and Learn More:
EPA Releases Bold National Strategy to Transform Recycling in America | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – November 15, 2021
Add pic, meta, keyphrase
https://www.cleanplanetproject.org/
Benefits of cleaning up litter– link to below for more details
https://www.cleanplanetproject.org/whycleanup
At the park
Jogging
Hiking
Walking dog- dog plalking- check spelling
The Great Global Cleanup- Earth Day, World Cleanup Day, or any day of the year!
Use proper care- keep gloves/kit in the car- link 4 Ocean kit!!
**Add meta and pics**
We diligently put our cardboard, paper, cans, glass, and other recyclables into the blue bin, day after day. The recycling truck comes by and hauls them all away. But when it comes to recycling, every material has its own specific path.
For reference:
Glass: Infinitely recyclable
Humans have been making glass for —- years. Made with–
When it ends up as litter, glass can stick around for a very long time… Estimates can vary greatly, but many say anywhere from thousands to even millions of years.
When a glass bottle is recycled into another glass bottle, this is truly circular.
Aluminum: Infinitely recyclable
Paper & cardboard – Pulp fibers can be recycled 5 to 7 times
Plastic – Varies by type, generally 1-3 times IF recyclable *CHECK
https://nextrex.com/view/educate
https://how2recycle.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Store-Drop-off-Locations.pdf
https://how2recycle.info/about-the-how2recycle-label/store-drop-off-us-only/
7 Different types- brief recycling details for each
Effective recycling VS Downcycling
When accepted, plastic typically only gets recycled 2-3 times, often being downcycled into other products of lower quality. rather than back into the same item it was before. *Depends on the type of plastic, which is indicated by the small number inside the triangular arrow symbol
**Not circular model–
**Finish with intro to circular economy concepts
**Add pic, meta, tags** Change number in title??
Non-GMO project
USDA Organic
https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2011/12/16/organic-101-what-organic-farming-and-processing-doesnt-allow
https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php
Palm oil
**add more?? Started an article somewhere on this?? in word?
**Add pic and meta**
*start with what and why–
-Pick a method
Cold composting – nothing needed, letting things break down at nature’s pace
Hot composting– types of bins
Bury method
Vermicomposting
Countertop composters
-Choose the location
-Start saving organics
Reference:
****Lots of resource links to check out– use in other posts/link some below? http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/smallscale.htm
https://www.almanac.com/how-compost-guide-composting-home
https://www.greenmatters.com/food/2018/12/07/ZboPlt/what-is-composting
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home
https://stonepierpress.org/gardeningnews/howtocompost
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/composting-101
Decide how you will be composting
Home composting not only helps to dramatically reduce household waste- it helps to return essential nutrients back to the soil and even curb climate change, too! **Plus bullet points on all other benefits
Getting started is easier than you might think:
A note about “browns” and “greens”
***Include general list here-MOVE specifics TO OTHER POST and reference!!
There are all kinds of things that are safe to toss in your home compost!
Paper towels & napkins
Bathroom tissue tubes
Wine corks
Torn up parchment paper
Sections of greasy pizza boxes
100% Cotton swabs
Tea bags (Unless they have a plastic mesh… and if they have a tiny staple, remove that first!)
Loofah & other plant-based sponges and cloths (cut up into pieces)
Cardboard egg cartons
Hair (including pet hair!)
Sticky notes
Paper receipts… (not the glossy thermal receipt kind– those contain **chemicals and plastic** check!)
Bamboo toothbrush handles (they might take a while, so you might also want to bury them vertically in your garden instead)
Troubleshooting…
If your compost gets too moist… add more leaves or brown matter!
Well-balanced compost should not have a foul odor if it is well balanced and contains enough oxygen… but every now and again, things can get off balance and you might find a slight odor coming from it. The great news is, this problem usually has a super quick and easy fix! First, start by turning or aerating the compost. A special compost aeration tool, such as the ***Tumbleweed*** – works wonders and makes this job much easier than a regular shovel or pitchfork.
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
Include??
Composting 101 | Natural Resources Defense Council
Composting at Home | U.S. EPA
Link to How-To videos from resource page
**Add pic and meta**
City-wide compost collection programs are growing!
San Francisco pioneered
https://www.sfenvironment.org/press/san-francisco-celebrates-major-climate-success-25-years-composting
San Francisco started this green trend in 1996
Composting in America report
Link of just reference: https://www.nrdc.org/resources/san-francisco-composting
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
Food to the Rescue: San Francisco Composting | Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Composting in America (2019 Report) | U.S. PIRG
San Francisco Celebrates Major Climate Success with 25 Years of Composting | San Francisco Environment Department
Change number?? Use stencil to add over pics– confirm all quotes by source!!
**Edit meta or ok as-is??*
Add from quote collections bookmarks tab
https://kidadl.com/quotes/best-wildlife-quotes-for-animals-and-nature-lovers
https://parade.com/1034896/marynliles/nature-quotes/
https://www.southernliving.com/culture/nature-quotes
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/30-nature-quotes-inspire-outside-180800993.html
https://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/writings/favorite_quotations.aspx
“In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.” -Aristotle
In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. – John Muir
When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe. -John Muir
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. -John Muir
-Rachel Carson
-I declare… Thoreau
Related Posts:
Check titles:
Race is on to protect nature
Wildlife back yard
Ways to connect with nature??
Add pic and meta!! Adjust number??
No plastic or harsh chemicals needed
Even better- plastic free– cleaning concentrates & refill
Make your own
https://unsophisticook.com/best-homemade-glass-cleaner/
**Add scrub recipe
Use castille soap- Bronners & Sal Suds
**plastic-free, avoid disposable pads, wipes– opt for reusable! non-toxic, refillable, compostable, repurpose old cloths, t-shirts, etc
https://www.thespruce.com/homemade-glass-cleaner-1387930
-plant based cloths/sponges
-avoid single-use wipes and mop heads
-reuse toothrushes- bamboo is best!!
Scrub with sal suds
**Just direct to search for recipes– add a few links to get started– glass cleaner, scrub
Concentrates- make in own bottle
Product ideas? https://www.wired.com/story/eco-friendly-natural-cleaning-products/
Add pic and meta!!
Use facts:
Reference– include link in explore and learn more? https://www.wwf.org.au/news/blogs/plastic-in-our-oceans-is-killing-marine-mammals
https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/discover-marine-debris/mystery-how-long-until-it-s-gone
For reference:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277584833_Marine_Anthropogenic_Litter
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/will-shifting-reusable-straws-really-make-difference
Microplastics pose risk to ocean plankton, climate, other key Earth systems
https://oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Microplastics-Fact-Sheet-FINAL-2.3.23.pdf
https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/marine-plastic-pollution
Related Posts: These single-use plastics are most harmful to marine life **Check title
Explore and Learn More:
Issues Brief: Marine plastic pollution | International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
The Mystery of How Long Until It’s Gone | NOAA
Plastic trash in the ocean is a global problem, and the US is the top source – a new report urges action | The Conversation
International Coastal Cleanup 2022 Report | Ocean Conservancy
A Plastic Ocean Official Trailer
Microplastics pose risk to ocean plankton, climate, other key Earth systems | Mongabay
**Add pic, meta, focus keyphrase
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html
Reference:
https://sustainability.yale.edu/explainers/yale-experts-explain-microplastics
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8704590/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9135010/
Microplastics pose risk to ocean plankton, climate, other key Earth systems
https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/1af02111-204a-4fcb-a622-e5edb856074b/content
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/microplastics
https://oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Microplastics-Fact-Sheet-FINAL-2.3.23.pdf
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/plastic-planet-how-tiny-plastic-particles-are-polluting-our-soil
https://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/plastic_ingestion_press_singles.pdf
Also linked below in Explore section
https://wesr.unep.org/media/docs/early_warning/microplastics.pdf
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
What are Microplastics? | NOAA
Remove?
10 Simple Ways to Avoid Microplastics in Your Everyday Life | EcoWatch
Microplastics: Trouble in the Food Chain | United Nations Environment Programme (Report)
Microplastics in Food Commodities: A Food Safety Review on Exposure Through Dietary Sources | FAO
Microplastics pose risk to ocean plankton, climate, other key Earth systems | Mongabay
We hear a lot these days about the need to take better care of our environment and reduce waste. While there are many things we can do to cut back on waste, including changing the way we shop, recycling, and composting, one of the first steps in reducing our impact on the environment is to avoid single-use plastics as much as possible!
Add from these articles?
188 Environmental Groups Call For An End To Single Use Products
https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/guides/singleuseplastics/healthimpacts
https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/blog/the-effects-of-single-use-plastic.html
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/single-use-plastics-101
https://www.thehealthy.com/hydration/facts-make-you-stop-using-plastic/
https://www.carbonfootprint.com/plastic_waste.html
Calculators: **Add links at end? https://www.goodnet.org/articles/5-ways-you-calculate-how-much-plastic-waste-generate-in-year
Here are 8 huge reasons why we should be doing everything we can to avoid single-use plastics:
Add??
When we start adding up all of the reasons… It’s easy to see why it’s SO important that we reduce our use of plastics!
Related Posts:
Are you eating plastic for dinner?
**All plastic reducing posts!!**
Explore and Learn More:
Visual Feature: Our Planet is Choking on Plastic | UN Environment Programme
Single-Use Plastics 101 | Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Health & Environmental Impacts of Single-Use Plastic | Plastic Pollution Coalition
**Add meta and pic** Combine other post? Change title?
Reusable shopping and produce bags!
For bag fact reference ONLY:
https://www.beyondplastics.org/fact-sheets/plasticbags
https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/sustainability/plastic_bag_facts.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/businessreporter/2020/10/22/solving-the-problem-of-plastic-bag-pollution/?sh=1dde47904c8a
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/canada-bans-single-use-plastics/
https://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/interesting-facts-about-plastic-bags
https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/sustainability/plastic_bag_facts.html
https://earth911.com/recycling-guide/how-to-recycle-plastic-bags
–add some quick stats about plastic bags– mention history? inventor of plastic bag
The Solution? Reusable bags… and oftentimes, if we only have a few things to carry, we might not need one at all!
They come in many shapes and sizes and are made with a variety of materials. Some may be trendy and stylish-looking, while others are just the “good-old basic bag with two handles” kind.
But whatever type of reusable bag they may be, they all share one very important purpose… to take the place of single-use bags that waste SO many resources and take a huge toll on wildlife & our environment!
While it is true that reusable bags themselves have an environmental footprint and that not all of them are created equally (they have to be manufactured and transported, too!), the main key is to find a few that work for us – ideally, some we already have – and then do our best to take them with us… each and every time we head to the store.
The more we use the same reusable bags over and over again to avoid single-use ones, the bigger their positive impact on the environment becomes!
It might seem like a simple little thing, but getting into the reusable bag habit can definitely take a conscious effort until we really get used to it. But once we do, it’s easy to see what a HUGE difference it makes in the amount of single-use plastic (or paper) we bring home!
(And if we find that we have more reusable bags than we really need, why not pass a few along to someone else who could use them?) 😊
Explore and Learn More:
Interesting Facts About Plastic Bags | The World Counts
Whether you have a sprawling lawn in the suburbs or a small courtyard in the city, there are many ways to help protect and support nature in your outdoor spaces. Read on to learn more!
Protecting the natural world and its biodiversity has become one of the biggest environmental priorities of our time. While there are several factors contributing to the loss of nature, according to the United Nations, the biggest driver is how people use Earth’s land and ocean. As humans take upagricultural lands and urban development, natural lands remaining around our planet become smaller and more fragmented. As a result, wildlife must struggle more to find essentials such as food and shelter.
And we might not think about this much as we go about our busy day-to-day lives, but just like all living things, we depend on the natural world around us to provide many of the necessities and services we rely on to survive. The simple truth is, we humans couldn’t live on this planet alone!
There are many different ways we as individuals can do our part to help protect nature. Consciously changing the products we buy and even the kinds of foods we eat can help to reduce our environmental impact and help to protect nature in other places. But there are also many great ways to help support the wildlife that shares the land where we live, right outside our door.
What if we took a close look at the outdoor spaces we manage and made just a few little changes, for nature’s sake? What if we took a little bit of extra time and effort in our yards to restore and protect the natural ecosystems that support us?
The following guide provides some helpful ideas for transforming your yard (or balcony) into a more nature-friendly environment. Read on below to learn more!
Many of the topics highlighted below are explored in more detail in other posts on this website. See the Related Posts section below.
When gardening and landscaping with wildlife in mind, adding more native plants around your yard is one of the best things you can do. Native plants are plants that have naturally evolved within the ecoregion where you live. Since they naturally have a “place” within the surrounding ecosystem, they can provide the most benefits for local wildlife when it comes to finding the food, shelter, and nesting sites they depend on to survive.
Many popular plants used in landscaping today are non-native or introduced species. These plants evolved in distant regions of the world and do not naturally occur in the natural ecosystem within the regions where they are planted. As a result, they often don’t provide much value in the way of supporting nature.
By including more native plants around your yard, you can help to restore essential habitat in areas where much of the natural landscape has been cleared away by development. By helping to restore natural habitat, you can help to support insects, birds, and other animals that each play a role within the ecosystems we depend on. Even if you don’t have much yard space or a yard at all, many native plants will do great in pots and containers on a balcony or patio!
Here are some great resources for learning about the native plants in your area:
Native Plants of North America | Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Ecoregional Planting Guides | Pollinator Partnership
Heavily manicured and maintained lawns require a lot of resources, time, and money to maintain. By transitioning to practices that reduce the environmental impact of your yard care routine, you can also help to protect nature and support local wildlife. This can include:
You may have heard that the populations of many types of pollinators have been shrinking. This is a major global problem, since pollinators play an essential role in keeping ecosystems functioning and healthy, and we rely on them for many of the foods we eat! Habitat loss is one of the leading causes as they struggle to find food, shelter, and nesting places in areas that have been transformed by human development. Pesticides and herbicides can also adversely affect pollinators, either directly or indirectly, as they accumulate in the environment over time.
Pollinator gardening has quickly grown in popularity over recent years as a way to help support struggling pollinator populations. By creating small patches of native flowering plants on your property, you help to rebuild essential habitats and support the bees, butterflies, birds, and other little wonders that depend on them. You can even register your pollinator patch in this citizen science project by Journey North!
Check out these Pollinator-Friendly Native Plant Lists from the Xerces Society.
Does your property have areas that are more on the “natural” side and not manicured or landscaped? Small unmanaged patches of wildflowers or shrubs around the edges of smaller yards can provide food, hiding places, and other benefits to pollinators and other animals. On larger properties, this could also include fragments of established forest cover or just some native trees that were left standing when a neighborhood was built.
Landowners can play an important role in supporting local wildlife and promoting biodiversity by setting aside areas of natural habitat – no matter the size or type – wherever possible. This can be especially important around growing cities and suburbs where nature can be quickly erased by buildings, pavement, and lawns.
***EDIT**
Adding more native plants around your yard is one great way to increase the amount and variety of fruits, nuts, seeds, and even leaves that local wildlife depends on to survive. The dried seed heads of some flowers, such as coneflowers, can Nuts from native trees and seeds from some dried flower heads, such as coneflowers, can be a valuable food source even in the cooler months of fall and winter. Transitioning to natural yard care practices also helps to bring more life to the soil and plants that grow from it, which in turn helps to support local food chains.
Bird feeders help to provide an additional food source for local birds, especially in the colder winter months and in areas where much of their natural habitat has been lost to development.
Putting birdfeeders up in your yard – especially over the winter – is a great way to help support local birds and connect with nature. If you are new to bird feeding, you will find that there are many different types of seeds and styles of feeders. Perch and platform feeders attract a wide range of birds, while tube feeders are more suited for woodpeckers and finches. Over the warmer months, hummingbird feeders can help provide a steady supply of nectar to these tiny birds, many of which migrate long distances in the spring and fall.
For more information and tips on feeding backyard birds, see this post on the Audubon website: 11 Tips for Feeding Backyard Birds You can also take part in Project FeederWatch, which is a citizen science project run by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology to study backyard bird populations across the U.S. and Canada. Audubon’s Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual free event each February that encourages people to report the birds they observe in their backyard. (U.S. and Canada)
Birds and insects need water just as we do! A birdbath can be a beautiful addition to a yard or garden, helping to provide a place for birds to stop for a quick bath or drink. You can even add some “rafts” made from repurposed corks to give bees a place to land and enjoy a sip of water, too. Small bee baths or fountains can also be placed near the ground within a flower garden.
Eco-Tip: If you don’t have a pump or fountain, remember to change the water often. Otherwise, you may unintentionally invite mosquitos, too!
Aside from food and water, another way to help wildlife in your yard is to be sure there are plenty of spots for them to rest, hide, and raise young. Adding native trees and other plants is one great way to ensure you are giving wildlife some shelter. Leaving old logs and some leaf cover on the ground over winter also helps to provide additional habitat around your yard.
Putting up birdhouses and insect “hotels” is another way to invite more nature to your yard. To learn more about attracting specific types of birds to your yard, check out this All About Birdhouses page on the Nestwatch website. Nestwatch is a nationwide nesting monitoring program run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Gardening for wildlife can take many forms, and can also take time. You might not have the space, time, or resources needed to do it all. But the important thing to remember is that every little action you can take to support wildlife makes a difference! Sharing your efforts and first-hand experiences helps to raise awareness about the importance of protecting and supporting nature and can be a powerful way to inspire others to join in.
If you can provide wildlife with all the main habitat essentials on your property – food, water, cover, and places to raise young – your yard may qualify to become officially recognized as Certified Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation!
Visit the National Wildlife Federation’s website and watch the quick video below to learn more:
Related Posts:
-Composting
-Pollinator Gardening
-Nature apps — CREATE
Explore and Learn More:
Organic Practices | National Wildlife Federation
Give Your Yard Back to Nature | Popular Mechanics
*Change main pic and some post pics
*Change intro!
Maybe you’ve heard about the decline in pollinator numbers and want to do something to help. If you’re a nature lover and enjoy spending time outdoors, you are looking for a new meaningful project to work on. You have a perfect spot in your yard or on your balcony and are starting to picture the final result: a pollinator garden!
Creating your own pollinator garden can be a wonderful way to help support bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other local wildlife. These nature-focused gardens bring much beauty and life to your outdoor spaces and can help to strengthen your sense of connection with the natural world.
But where should you begin? What are the basics you need to know? There are all kinds of great in-depth resources about gardening for pollinators online, and a few are highlighted at the bottom of this post.
These helpful tips can help get you going in the right direction – before you start planting!
First, you will need to assess the area you will be working with.
Does it get full sun for much of the day, or would it be considered partial sun/shade? Or maybe it’s a combination of the two? You will need to choose sun-loving, partial sun, or shade-tolerant plants depending on how much sun your space gets throughout the day.
If you are working with a smaller space or with pots on a patio or balcony, you will need to consider the mature size of the plants you select. Otherwise, you may end up with an overcrowding problem! Many perennial flowers will die back and regrow each year to roughly the same size, but many will expand and spread over the years through their root systems or seeds. Flowering shrubs will often grow larger over several years until they reach full size.
You’ll also need to consider the soil conditions at the site of your future garden. Does it tend to collect water and stay damp, or is the area well-drained and dry?
Answering these important questions will help you choose the right kinds of plants that are more likely to thrive in your garden.
Even if you don’t have yard space, many native plants can grow well in pots and containers on patios and balconies!
Native plants are always the best choice when gardening with wildlife in mind. Since these plants naturally belong in the wild landscape of a given area, they can provide the most benefits for insects and other wildlife when it comes to their food, shelter, and reproductive needs.
If you need some guidance on where to start, these guides and directories below can be great resources for learning more about native plants in your area:
Native Plants Database | Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (U.S. & Canada)
Ecoregional Planting Guides | Pollinator Partnership (U.S. & Canada)
Pollinator-Friendly Native Plant Lists | Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation (U.S. & Canada)
Once you’ve learned more about the native plants in your area, the tricker part can be actually finding them locally. Plant Native’s Native Plant Nursery Finder is a state-by-state directory for finding nurseries that sell native plants within the U.S. There are also several online-based nurseries that specialize in native plants and seeds, and will ship them right to your home!
Note: Even though a plant may be advertised as “pollinator friendly,” this does not necessarily mean it is native! Many plants that have been introduced from other regions of the world may indeed attract many butterflies and other pollinators. But non-native plants often cannot provide the same level of ecosystem benefits that native plants do. Another issue is that when the seeds of certain introduced species find their way from yards into natural landscapes, they can grow unchecked and become invasive. Invasive species take over and crowd out the native plants that actually belong there, which in turn reduces the amount of available habitat for wildlife. The butterfly bush is a classic example of this problem.
Some plants bloom only in spring, while others only bloom in summer. There are also “late bloomers,” that only flower in late summer or fall. Others will bloom off and on throughout multiple seasons. Ideally, a pollinator garden should have different flowers blooming throughout spring, summer, and fall to provide maximum benefit to pollinators. Some experts recommend having at least 3 different flowers in bloom during each growing season.
Note: Local nurseries will often sell different plants through the growing seasons as they are in peak bloom, so if you plan to buy most of your plants in person rather than online, may need to make multiple trips during spring, summer, and fall, and build your garden slowly through the seasons.
Did you know that different groups of pollinators are attracted to specific colors of flowers? Bees are especially attracted to shades of blue, purple, violet, yellow, and bright white. Butterflies are drawn to bright colors, including red and purple. And hummingbirds are most attracted to scarlet, orange, red, and white flowers. In other words, try to create a rainbow of color in your garden!
The shape of the flowers in your garden will also determine which pollinators will visit. For example, flowers that attract hummingbirds tend to be more funnel- or cup-shaped, whereas bees can benefit from a variety of flower shapes, including shallow or tubular.
When we think of gardening for pollinators, images of bright-colored flowers might first come to mind. But other plants such as grasses, shrubs, and trees can also help pollinators and other local wildlife by providing food, hiding and nesting spots, and other habitat needs. If you have the space, incorporating a wide range of different types of native plants in your garden and yard will help to make it an even more attractive haven for all kinds of wildlife.
After you’ve researched and narrowed down some types of native plants you’d like to include in your garden, it’s important to come up with a general plan for where everything will go. Consider the mature heights and space requirements, as well as the colors and bloom time of flowers, when deciding where to plant them. If you have enough space, try to plant multiples of each type of flower – rather than just one – so that pollinators can move quickly and easily between individual flowers. And be sure to leave some space to walk around and admire your beautiful garden and all of the little visitors that come and go!
Bees, butterflies, dragonflies, and birds need a regular source of water to drink, just like we do. Setting up a small “bee bath” or “bee fountain” is a great way to provide a water source for pollinators as they work busily in your garden. These bee baths can be easily made at home using some floating corks or small rocks exposed at the surface in a shallow bowl of water, or they can also be purchased ready-made. Whichever style you choose, it’s important to clean the bowl regularly and refresh the water often.
Spraying toxic chemicals around your yard can unintentionally cause harm to bees and other pollinators. These chemicals can stick around in the environment long after they’ve been sprayed, and the long-term impacts they may have on insects and other wildlife can be hard to assess. When gardening with nature in mind, look for natural solutions that don’t involve harsh chemicals.
Chances are that building your garden may take several months or even a few years, rather than something you finish in a day or two. Planting a garden for pollinators will take time and some money, so plan accordingly and do what you can, when you can. Once you get started, it can quickly become an exciting, rewarding, and fun hobby!
Pollinator gardens provide endless opportunities for observation, education, and photography. Sharing your photos and experiences is a powerful way to spread the word about the joy, wonder, and importance of gardening with nature in mind. Whether you talk to friends and neighbors or share on social media, sharing can help to inspire others to join this important movement.
Having your own pollinator patch in your yard also provides a great opportunity to participate in citizen science projects focused on pollinators. Check out these programs:
Journey North – Get your patch on the map! Through Journey North’s pollinator patch program, people can register and share photos of their pollinator gardens and join the network of registered pollinator patches across North America.
Monarch Watch – Plant milkweed for monarchs and participate in tagging and counting monarch butterflies throughout their migration journey.
The Great Sunflower Project – Help scientists collect data on pollinator populations in your area.
Related posts:
We need pollinators. But they’re in trouble!
**Ways to make your yard greener***
14 Big ways you can help protect pollinators
The beauty and magic of pollination (Watch)
Explore and Learn More:
How to build a pollinator garden | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Creating a Pollinator Paradise | The Nature Conservancy
Pollinator Garden Tip Sheet | National Wildlife Federation
Selecting Plants to Support Pollinators | Pollinator Partnership
Create a Balcony Pollinator Garden | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Containers for Pollinators | Better Homes and Gardens
Pollinator Patches | Journey North (Citizen science project)
Taking steps to reduce our environmental footprint and live more sustainably can involve many aspects of our lives. It has to do with being more conscious of the resources we use, paying closer attention to what we buy, and cutting back on how much we throw away. It challenges us to become more aware of the issues affecting our planet and actively take part in protecting the natural world that supports us. Ultimately, it means learning to keep the Earth in our minds and hearts as we go about our daily lives. This is, after all, the one home we all depend on!
Would you like to find some new ways to reduce your environmental impact and connect with nature? Are you interested in discovering simple swaps and habits that can also save money? If so, the Earth-friendly tips, ideas, and resources below can help you get going in the right direction!
Adopting a more sustainable lifestyle can be enriching, enlightening, and very fulfilling. But trying to take on too many new things at once can get overwhelming! Depending on where you are along your eco journey, you might find it helpful to pick one or two areas to focus on first and take time to get used to new routines and products before moving on. Remember, every Earth-friendly action you can take – big or small – makes a difference.
It’s no secret that single-use plastic bags are not good for our planet. And the thing is, they can often be easily avoided simply by bringing your own reusable bags when you shop or even skipping a bag altogether. Just this one little habit alone can significantly shrink your overall plastic footprint! Use this Plastic Calculator on Earthday.org to explore your current plastic-use patterns and learn about more Earth-friendly alternatives.
Dodging single-use cups and bottles while on the go is easy when you have your own with you! Take your eco-routine to the next level by also bringing reusable straws, containers, and utensils when you leave home. Aside from plastic bottles*, most single-use plastics and other disposable products can’t be easily recycled, so they end up in landfills and incinerators… or drifting around in the environment as litter.
*Even though plastic bottles are often recyclable through curbside collection services, the most eco-friendly option is to avoid them as much as possible, along with other single-use plastics and disposable items.
Take time to consider the packaging that comes with the products you buy. Do certain things create a lot of packaging waste compared to the actual amount of product you are getting? If so, look for more eco-friendly alternatives. Choose plastic-free packaging when possible. Depending on your local shopping options, you might even be able to buy some products package-free using your own containers and bags.
When it comes to eco-friendly personal care products, there are lots of great options out there today! Switching to a bamboo toothbrush is one easy way to dodge some extra plastic waste in the dental care department. Plastic-free toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash products are also now available in many stores and online. If you want to make more sustainable swaps in the bathroom, try using shampoo and conditioner bars instead of buying the liquid versions in a bottle. Every plastic handle, tube, and container you can avoid reduces your footprint and helps to protect our planet!
Be on the lookout for wasteful plastics in the kitchen. Although it can be easy to fall into a routine of using single-use food storage bags and plastic wraps for short-term uses, they often aren’t really necessary. Just having a few reusable containers, fabric bowl covers, and silicone storage bags on hand usually does the trick! And like so many other eco-swaps, opting for reusables over disposables can also help save money in the long run.
Did you know that some tissue products are directly linked to the loss of our planet’s precious ancient forests? By choosing 100% recycled or other “tree-free” paper products – including bathroom tissue and paper towels – you can avoid contributing to this major problem and help protect forest ecosystems. Check out the latest Issue with Tissue report* to see how various tissue brands measure up when it comes to their environmental impact. *Published by the NRDC and Stand.earth
Many traditional cleaning products on store shelves today contain harsh chemicals that can harm our health and the environment. Once they are washed down the drain, these chemicals can eventually find their way into local lakes and rivers, disrupting aquatic ecosystems. Not to mention, all those containers and spray tops create a lot of extra plastic waste!
Thankfully, there are lots of greener alternatives to choose from in the cleaning department. These products typically contain more natural ingredients, and many extra Earth-conscious brands also offer plastic-free, reusable, or low-waste packaging. For another low-cost option, you can make your own effective cleaners in repurposed jars and spray bottles. Many are very easy to make using just a few basic and clean ingredients like baking soda, castile soap, essential oils, and vinegar. You can find all kinds of easy “recipes” for Make-it-Yourself non-toxic cleaners online, from mirror spray to cleaning scrub.
Buying fresh, locally grown produce reduces carbon emissions from transportation and supports smaller-scale – and often more sustainable – farming practices. It’s also a great way to dodge some plastic packaging! LocalHarvest is a helpful online directory for finding the nearest farmers markets, farm stands, u-pick farms, and even restaurants that serve local produce. (U.S. only)
Choosing to buy things that have already been in use – instead of things that are brand new – is another great way to reduce your footprint. By buying “pre-loved” items such as clothing, furniture, books, and toys, you help conserve natural resources, reduce pollution from manufacturing, and prevent items that still have a useful life from ending up in a landfill. And since second-hand items typically cost much less than new ones, shopping this way is also budget-friendly. Not to mention, you never know what unique items you might find!
Recycling goes way beyond cardboard, paper, and empty cans! Look for ways to recycle other kinds of items instead of just throwing them away when they aren’t needed anymore. A wide range of drop-off and mail-in recycling programs are available for things like lightbulbs, batteries, ink cartridges, electronics, appliances, and old paint. Depending on your location, you might be able to drop off your old jeans and worn athletic shoes for recycling. Many of these programs are free! A visit to your nearest recycling center or a quick online search for how to recycle a specific item can often get you going in the right direction.
Clothes, toys, sports equipment, and other items in good condition can often be resold, donated, or given away to someone who needs them. The more “stuff” we keep in the loop and out of the waste stream, the better for our planet.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, over one-third of all food produced in the U.S. is never eaten and goes to waste. All this wasted food takes a huge toll on the environment! When we waste food, we waste all the energy and resources used to grow, make, package, and transport it. The more food we waste, the bigger our footprint when it comes to land use, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.
We can each do our part by making an effort to prevent food waste as much as possible, both at home and while dining out. This can include planning meals ahead, buying smaller portions, and storing produce in ways that help keep it fresh longer. Prioritize food in your fridge and pantry that needs to be used up so it doesn’t spoil. And when you have produce and other foods hanging around that you don’t have a plan for yet, try to find creative ways to use them up!
Banana peels (along with other organic waste materials) don’t belong trapped in a landfill… Return them to the Earth instead! The super eco-friendly practice of composting can instantly shrink household waste and your carbon footprint. By composting your food scraps and other organics instead of throwing them away, you help reduce the amount of potent greenhouse gas emissions from landfills. Composting also ensures that valuable nutrients from food, yard trimmings, and other organic materials are recycled back into the soil, where they can be used again.
Depending on where you live, you might be able to recycle your food scraps through a compost pickup service or a nearby community composting drop-off site. There are also many popular techniques for composting right at home!
Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Take shorter showers. Try to use less water while washing dishes and hands. You’ve probably heard these water-saving tips many times before, but they can be easy to forget when you’re in the moment. By making small adjustments in your daily routine to conserve water, you reduce the amount of energy needed to treat, pump, and heat it before it reaches the faucet. Conserving water also helps to reduce pollution and protect aquatic ecosystems. And, of course, it can also help lower your water bill!
Hanging laundry up to dry (inside or outside) is a great way to save some energy at home. This back-to-basics, eco-friendly routine not only helps shrink your carbon footprint – it also helps to lower your gas or electric bill! Less tumble dryer time means less wear and tear on fabrics, which helps to make clothing last longer. If hanging a clothesline outside isn’t possible, an outdoor weatherproof drying rack can be a great alternative. As an added bonus, air-drying clothes is also a great way to reduce static.
You can help protect forests, conserve resources, and reduce pollution simply by making a few small changes to your paper-use habits. This can include adjusting your printer settings to print on both sides and saving sheets with an unused side for scrap paper. Buying paper and paper products made from recycled content whenever possible also helps to reduce your environmental footprint. And, of course, be sure to recycle (or compost) paper or cardboard you don’t need anymore!*
*Certain paper products, such as coated paper plates and cups, often can’t be recycled or composted. So, when it comes to reducing landfill waste, the best option is to avoid using these kinds of single-use products in the first place.
Native plants are always a great choice when gardening and landscaping with nature in mind. Since these plants already have a “place” within the ecosystem of a given local area, they can bring the most benefits when it comes to providing food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and other local wildlife. If you are looking for a yard project that will both add beauty and help nature, consider starting a pollinator garden!
There are many ways to manage lawns and gardens without the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Natural and organic lawn care practices ensure a safer environment for people, pets, and wildlife and also promote healthy soil and aquatic ecosystems. Chemical-free, naturally-maintained yards that contain less overall lawn area and more native plants also typically need less watering, mowing, and trimming – which saves time, energy, and money.
Growing some of your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs has many environmental benefits. For one thing, homegrown produce doesn’t need to travel long distances before it gets to your plate, which saves energy. Fruits, veggies, and herbs you grow and enjoy yourself don’t need any plastic bags, clamshell containers, foam trays, ties, labels, or stickers that often come with store-bought produce, reducing waste. Having a garden is also a great way to connect with nature and the Earth. Not to mention, watching and learning about how different foods grow first-hand can be exciting, eye-opening, and rewarding!
Don’t have a yard or enough space for a full garden? Many fruits, veggies, and herbs can be grown in containers or vertical planters on patios, balconies, and even indoors.
Whether you are at a local park, on a forest trail, or even in your own yard, embrace the opportunity to connect with the natural world surrounding you. Take time to explore and learn more about the trees, birds, insects, and other wonders of nature you encounter. Thanks to today’s technology, phone apps can help identify plants and many types of wildlife within seconds. If you don’t already have them, Merlin Bird ID, BirdNET, and iNaturalist are popular nature apps that can help boost your nature knowledge and connect you with other nature lovers.
Read more about these and other great nature apps in this post: Attention all nature enthusiasts: Check out these must-have apps!
Sadly, a lot of our garbage ends up in the environment… and a significant portion of it is plastic. Litter that starts on land often finds its way into waterways and the ocean, where single-use plastics can be especially hazardous for marine life. Over time, plastic litter often wears down into tiny microplastics through exposure to sunlight and water.
The good news is that you don’t have to wait for an organized Earth Day cleanup event to help! Whether on a walk in your neighborhood, at a park, or on the beach, getting into the regular habit of picking up litter is a quick and easy way to help protect wildlife and reduce pollution. Every little piece you collect counts! If you want to keep track of your progress and share your efforts, there’s an app for that! Check out the Litter CleanUp app and Clean Swell by the Ocean Conservancy.
Many studies have shown that the foods we choose to eat can significantly affect our overall environmental footprint. While the impact of specific foods within each category can vary depending on where and how they are grown and produced, the overall findings are clear: Plant-based foods, such as grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and legumes, generally require less land, use less water and energy, and have lower greenhouse gas emissions compared with animal-based foods.
So, when it comes to food, you can quickly and effectively shrink your footprint simply by incorporating more balanced, plant-based meals and snacks into your routine. If you are new to plant-based cooking and aren’t sure where to begin, there are all kinds of helpful tips and healthy, delicious recipes out there online to help get you started! To learn more about the specific impacts of different food choices, explore WWF’s Planet-Based Diets Impact & Action Calculator.
Reducing is at the heart of sustainable living. Taking steps to reduce our resource use and how much we throw away is essential to reducing our personal impact on the Earth. And a big part of this involves becoming more conscious of what we choose to buy in the first place! Many things, such as single-use plastics and other convenience disposables, can often be avoided altogether – especially while at home. And as for items that we only might need once or on occasion, why not try to borrow or rent them instead of buying our own? Oftentimes, we are tempted to buy more… when we really don’t need it.
So before you buy, consider these questions: Is this something I really need, or can I do without it? How long will this last? Where will this end up when I don’t need it anymore?
Related Posts:
Skip single-use on the go: Bring these reusables along with you!
Curious about composting? Details, options, and how to get started!
More to explore at Going Greener Today:
All About Composting: Videos & Resources
Environmental Awareness Days and Events
**Add pic, meta, keyphrase, tags,
-Reduce resource use
-Reduce waste
-Protect and support nature
-Get involved
-Have gratitude for all that Earth gives us– reword? Robin Wall Kimmerer final chapter
Add pics and meta, more tags? change title?
Ideas: https://growensemble.com/eco-friendly-gifts/
**Reusable essentials for shopping and on-the-go such as produce bags, bottles, cups, & straws
**Eco-friendly kitchen swaps including beeswax wraps, reusable storage bags, or Swedish dishcloths to replace paper towels
**Plastic-free products to try out, like unpackaged soaps, shampoo & conditioner bars, dish soap blocks with natural sponges/cloths/brushes, plastic-free hand lotions… or anything we have discovered and like & want to share!
**Gifts made of recycled or upcycled materials, such as home accessories and jewelry
**Thrifted books and other pre-loved treasures
**Wildflower seeds, indoor/outdoor herbs & potted plants, and native/pollinator-friendly flowers and other plants for balconies, patios or gardens
**Bird feeders & nesting houses/huts, bee baths, and bee “condos” can also make great gifts for nature lovers, too!
**Symbolic adoptions, gift donations, tree planting
*Membership to a nature center
**House plants or a potted plant for outdoors – native, pollinator-friendly flowers or even a tomato plant!
**Grow your own kits/seed mats/herb garden
And as for wrapping, the more we can reuse & repurpose what we already have… and skip the plastic (including tape)… the better!
Link to EarthHero- link to reusables
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-Birds
-Butterflies- , overwintering, monarch migration
-caterpillars in leaves
Bees
-Leave some leaves, hollow stems
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https://www.audubon.org/news/how-welcome-winter-birds
Winter feeder watch:
https://feederwatch.org/
-Leave leaves
-Hollow stems
-Feeders
**Change number in title? Integrate points in top section with points below
More tips:
https://www.greenamerica.org/save-trees
Do you regularly use a printer? Are paper cups and plates a regular part of your routine? Are you a sticky note person? Do you know where your bathroom tissue comes from?
We may not pause to think about it much, but our individual paper-use habits affect the environment. The papermaking process uses a lot of water and energy and also produces greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. It often involves chemicals that contribute to water pollution. And here’s the saddest part: The pulp used for some paper products, such as certain brands***ADD LINK*** of bathroom tissue and paper towels, comes directly from ancient forests.
The good news is that there are lots of easy ways to shrink our paper footprint. Here are 11 simple tips to get you going!
Be sure to recycle all paper and cardboard products that can be recycled
When we take the time recycle the paper and cardboard we don’t need anymore, we keep those pulp fibers in the loop so they can be used to make new paper products.
How many times paper can be recycled… adding new fibers
–Explain non-recyclable items
We often have a choice between products made from 100% recycled content and virgin wood pulp. Choosing recycled—-
Paper, paper products, TP– paperless options! Related posts– TP, paper towels
When we think about our overall personal environmental impact, one simple phrase pretty much sums it up: The less we use, the better.
Buy products
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
Link to NRDC Sustainability Scorecard
Save Trees: Green America’s Better Paper Project | Green America
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-Reduce heat
-Less dryer time
-Hang to dry!
-All save energy, money and reduce your footprint.
**Add pic** from farm?
Summarize impacts of food waste in U.S. on EPA Infographic– link: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/images/2022-02/benefits.png
***Info to add? https://www.usda.gov/foodlossandwaste/why
https://www.epa.gov/land-research/farm-kitchen-environmental-impacts-us-food-waste
https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/sustainable-management-food-basics#
Summarize: https://www.nrdc.org/food-waste
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200224-how-cutting-your-food-waste-can-help-the-climate
Related Posts:
10 Things we can do to help tackle food waste ***Link!!!
Explore and Learn More:
Food Waste | Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
From Farm to Kitchen: The Environmental Impacts of Food Waste | U.S. EPA
Food Waste and its Links to Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change | USDA
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-Carbon emissions
-Land
-Biodiversity
—more
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-reduce-carbon-footprint
https://www.nrdc.org/bio/maria-mccain/plant-based-diet-healthier-us-and-our-planet#
https://unfccc.int/news/we-need-to-talk-about-meat
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/food
https://davidsuzuki.org/living-green/food-climate-change
https://takethejump.org/eat-green
https://www.un.org/en/actnow/food
https://unfccc.int/blog/we-need-to-talk-about-meat
https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/food_practice/food_loss_and_waste/
https://explore.panda.org/food/how-to-eat-more-sustainably
https://wwf.medium.com/the-power-is-on-our-plates-d576bcbe15be
**Add pics and meta** Keyphrase
**Add pics, meta, focus keyphrase**
-History
-Current status
**Tabs open on other computer**
https://www.worldwildlife.org/blogs/good-nature-travel/posts/ten-facts-about-sea-otters
https://www.aquariumofpacific.org/exhibits/otters/sea_otter_conservation
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/7750/219377647
https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-found-the-real-way-sea-otters-stay-warm-in-cold-waters-leaky-skeletal-muscle
**Add pics meta, focus keyphrase**
In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. – John Muir
When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe. -John Muir
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. -John Muir
Talk about Muir Woods
https://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/writings/favorite_quotations.aspx
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https://www.fws.gov/story/dragonfly-watching-wildlife-refuges
**Add pics and meta**
Less…
-Resources
-Pollution
-Transportation
-Packaging
More ideas?? https://greenwithless.com/second-hand-shopping-planet/
https://greenwithless.com/environmental-benefits-buying-secondhand-clothing/
https://www.trvst.world/sustainable-living/10-reasons-why-you-should-buy-second-hand/
Second-hand items that are often easy to find:
Clothing- everyday and special occasions
Accessories
Books
Household items and furniture
**Add tags and meta**
Definitions of vegetarian, vegan
Strict vegan VS **Mostly plant foods**
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Link favorite recipes– give attribution, state inspiration
Change title?
Add other examples
Circular economy– Add meta description, tags
Explore and Learn More:
Ellen MacArthur Foundation: What is the circular economy?
Circular Economy Month | Circular Innovation Council
Videos
Closing the Loop Film
**Change title– add meta description and pics***
Bring VIDEO below to top!!
**Mention Circular Economy Month- Canada
https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview
**https://www.greenbiz.com/article/do-consumers-even-know-what-circular-economy-means
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/partner-content-circular-economy-event-recap
https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2021-1-january-february/feature/will-circular-economy-save-planet ***READ FOR BACKGROUND- NOT LINK
We take all kinds of resources from the Earth and turn them into useful things. We use these things for a period of time — sometimes for many years, and sometimes for just a few minutes– and when we don’t need them anymore, we just throw them away.
The landfills have been getting bigger and bigger, and the incinerators have been burning it to get it out of our way. And lots of it has been finding its way into our environment… especially the oceans.
This way of doing things is based on the linear economy. The “take, make, discard… and then take more” model.
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Things have been going this way since the beginnings of human innovation. But a slow awakening has been taking place in recent years… We have realized that we just can’t keep on going this way! Our planet and environment cannot sustain it. When we really stop to think about it, it’s easy to see how it just isn’t possible to keep on taking from the Earth and then burying or burning things once we are done with them. This way of living is simply not sustainable!
—Clipped from FB post— edit and blend!
Today, we mainly live in a “take-make-waste” linear model within linear economic model: Take resources from the Earth, turn them into products, and then throw them away once they aren’t needed anymore.
The circular economy is based on a model that keeps resources in the “loop” instead of being wasted once we don’t need them anymore. In recent years, many government leaders and companies have been focusing more on the circular concept as a way to reduce waste and conserve natural resources.
To learn more about how shifting towards a circular economy can help us to keep materials in the “loop” and reduce our consumption of resources, visit www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org and watch this quick video by the European Environment Agency.
Add newer EM videos below??
***Save below for a reflection piece??**
There are many ideas, perspectives, and questions about the circular economy and how exactly it can be achieved. After all, it is a relatively new concept for a culture that has been used to doing things the easier way for a very long time now.
The bottom line is, we have to figure out new ways to keep the materials that are already in use in the “loop”… whether it be through composting or true recycling (rather than downcycling) rather than continuing to take finite resources from the Earth and then letting them go to waste. Because when we really stop to think about it, it’s easy to see that we can’t keep taking and taking and throwing away… it just doesn’t make sense and can’t continue long term. We also have to consider all of the other living things that share our planet… this is their home too! Not to mention, we might not realize it in our everyday lives, but we depend on biodiversity to survive.
This is why governments, companies, and entire organizations are trying to shift towards a more circular shifting
Explore and Learn More:
What is the circular economy? | Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Circular Economy Month | Circular Innovation Council
**Add pic and meta**
-Letting go of manicured lawn– switching to natural lawn care, push mower, embracing variety and letting go of perfect lawn– benefits to not having manicured lawn– less maintenance, saves money
-Letting nature grow, removing invasives
-Adding native plants
-Pollinator gardening
**Add pics and meta– change number in title?
-Caterpillars – larval form of moths, skippers, and butterflies
-Why caterpillars are important– eat plants and then make this energy available to many other animals when they are eaten — Tallamy book!
-Host plants– discuss monarch-milkweed example
-Familiar butterflies and their caterpillars– link videos if don’t have photos!!
-Gardening for nature– link other posts— talking about learning to be ok with holes in your leaves… eg– planting extra parsley to share with ?black swallowtail? **Have pic
**Add more points
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We depend on bees for— stats, many foods, flowering plants which are the base of the food chain that all life depends on
Honey bee – not native to U.S.
Business of carrying bees around for pollination
Native bee numbers– most solitary (bumble bee- hives)
Where they live
How to help them
**Add pic and meta
My personal story… native plant sale, caterpillars, eaten- don’t have a chance in my yard with all of the trees, feeders, and baby birds that haven’t learned yet, 2 eggs raised inside until they were in 2nd-3rd instar, one wild eaten outside, butterfly enclosure, 2 newly discovered eggs,
**Add pic (my own!), meta, tags, **CHANGE TITLE?
Basics of monarch populations and migration — link to WWF article below??
Problem:
Changing patterns and populations — newly added to endangered species list
Ways to get involved:
-Planting for monarchs
-Citizen Science– Monarch Watch? Not include MW?, Journey North, + others? *counting, tagging
https://journeynorth.org/monarchs
-Xerces Society recommends not buying monarchs by mail and mass raising– link and explain
-Join organizations that are working to save monarchs– WWF, EDF, others?
-Share with others!
Related Posts:
**Citizen science post** + others?
https://www.isfoundation.com/news/incredible-journey-monarch-butterfly-migration
Explore and Learn More:
The great monarch migration: A unique phenomenon under threat | WWF
**Change number in title?
Add pic, meta
Pollinator
Migration
Food source
Life cycle Timeline
Endangered- when, why
How to Help! Plant Milkweed, Do not buy and mass raise monarchs
**Change title? Add pic, meta — Change intro wording
When it comes to wastefulness, not all products are created equally. Many products on store shelves these days are designed for “use-and-toss” convenience. When we are in the habit of buying certain things, we often don’t stop to think about how much they are really costing both us… and our planet.
-Coffee pods
-Lint rollers
-Disposable mop heads/dusters
-Single-use food bags and wraps– same goes for other single-use kitchen plastics, including disposable crock-pot liners, etc.
-Paper towels
Cleaning wipes
-Single-use serveware- cups, plates, utensils, straws
-Water bottles — unless tap water in the area is unsafe
-Single-use soap dispensers
**se-and-toss products is really
So the next time you are about to spend money on something that will just be used once and thrown away, ask yourself: Could I do without?
Remove missions statement and edit first few sections
Going Greener Today is a hub for exploring a wide range of topics centered around the environment, nature, and sustainability. Through sharing facts, resources, videos, tips, tools, trends, and ideas, the mission of Going Greener Today is to promote environmental and ecological awareness while also helping to inspire greener ways of living.
Hello, and Welcome!
First, thank you for joining me here at Going Greener Today and taking the time to visit this page. If you are reading this, there’s a good chance you care about protecting the natural world and our environment just as I do.
Even though the idea for Going Greener Today first came to life in 2020, I began gathering the seeds I needed for this project many years earlier… although I didn’t realize it at the time.
Here is a little about my story:
It was the late 90s, and I was in my early college years. I hadn’t decided yet what I wanted to “do” when it came to a career. And then, one day, I came across a fascinating magazine article about how human activities were causing our planet’s climate to get warmer. I remember being completely absorbed as I read it, and I can still envision those pages open in front of me to this day. This single article inspired me to want to know more and raised many “big picture” questions in my mind. How did things get this way? In what other ways were humans affecting the environment? What did this all mean for us? And what did we need to do to turn things around?
I had uncovered the path upon which I wanted to travel and dreamed of one day joining the environmental movement and doing my small part to make a difference.
This newfound passion led me to Rutgers University, where I pursued a degree in Natural Resource Management with a focus on conservation ecology. Over these short undergraduate years, I learned all about ecosystems and Earth’s natural cycles. My eyes were opened wider to how humans were altering the natural world and depleting Earth’s natural resources at an alarming and unsustainable rate, putting the well-being of many living things – including ourselves – at risk.
After graduating, I had the opportunity to work for a local environmental organization, researching and writing articles for their publications. As someone who has always loved to write, this was truly a dream job: Digging into environmental topics that I was deeply interested in and being able to write about them! I then returned to Rutgers for my Master’s in Ecology and Evolution, where I learned more about coral reefs, soil ecology, wetlands, and forests and how humans were affecting them. My fascination with the natural world had grown exponentially, and I had hopes of finding a job with a non-profit conservation organization after graduation. At that time, though, entry-level jobs in the environmental field were very limited, so I changed directions and decided to go into teaching. My years as a teacher helped me to realize the importance of environmental and ecological education and also helped me to discover my true passion for sharing about the importance of caring for our planet.
The seeds had been planted.
My career path over the next many years brought me further from the environmental field… but I always felt an inexplicable “pull” to find a way back to my passion and combine it with my love of writing and teaching.
In early 2020, I began writing a manuscript for a children’s book that explored the topic of waste. While I was researching for this project, I realized just how much I had yet to learn… and how much had changed since my college years. It was a time of reflection and “eco-awakening” as I realized what I could be doing (and not doing) in my own life to live in a more sustainable, Earth-friendly way.
Many of the environmental problems I had learned about over my college years had become more urgent than ever before. Some issues had jumped into code red status in only a few decades. Biodiversity loss. Soil deterioration. Pollinator decline. Food waste. Plastic pollution. Ocean health. Overfishing. The never-ending loss of natural lands into human-dominated landscapes. All of these critical issues facing us today are linked together in intricate and invisible ways, and they all need our attention at the same time. Experts and organizations from around the world have been sharing their urgent messages, loud and clear: We must change course to protect nature and reduce our collective impact on the environment… And we must act quickly before too much damage has been done.
On the flip side, I was so excited and encouraged to discover more about the many “green” trends that are currently taking shape all around us. Enormous efforts are underway to clean up the ocean, add more green spaces to cities, and restore forests and other wild lands in places where they had been lost. Many countries and cities have initiated bold changes to reduce waste and pollution from single-use plastics. We now have a huge array of plastic-free products available to us in the marketplace, when not too long ago, there were no other options. There’s even a growing wave of zero-waste grocery stores popping up around the world, especially in larger cities. Companies are taking steps to make their products more circular and environmentally friendly, and there are more “eco-heroes” coming together and helping to bring about and inspire change than ever before.
As I traveled along my own “eco-awakening” journey, I discovered all kinds of incredible and helpful resources, videos, books, tools, facts, documentaries, and tips that each helped to fill in what felt like a giant invisible puzzle in my mind. I came across so many amazing organizations, movements, and stories along the way as I was digging to learn more. This learning experience brought about a new level of environmental awareness and ecological consciousness to my life that was truly life-changing! The teacher in me eagerly wanted to share all of these amazing things I had discovered, and I gradually began envisioning how I could put it all together in what I hoped would become a helpful and meaningful learning hub for others. My goal was to create a place where people could visit and become inspired to actively join the growing movement toward a better, greener future for all.
So, with support and encouragement from family and friends, this passion project of mine slowly took shape, and Going Greener Today came to be. After 3 years of gathering, planning, and writing, this website was officially launched in ———- 2023.
Over the course of working on this project, my personal connection to nature and Earth deepened beyond anything I had experienced before. I found myself making all kinds of changes in my habits and routines in an effort to live more sustainably and reduce my own environmental footprint as much as possible. Many of these changes were centered around doing all I could to reduce waste. This included using reusables over single-use whenever possible, learning how to start a home compost, and changing not only how I shop, but also the products I choose to buy. I discovered a new love of cooking healthy and delicious plant-based meals at home. Having a backyard vegetable garden has helped me to realize how precious our food really is… all of the little miracles that grow from Earth’s soil that we depend on for nourishment… and helped me to understand first-hand why it’s so important that we take care not to waste it. I’ve become a huge fan of “pre-loved” clothes, and I try to buy books, furniture, and other household items second-hand whenever I can. I transitioned to natural lawn care and bought a human-powered push mower, and decided to “rewild” half of my backyard. I researched native plants in my area and started a pollinator garden next to my back patio, and I love spending time just observing all of the amazing and colorful little visitors that stop by. While spending time outside, whether I’m on a nature walk or just around my neighborhood, I now keep an eye out for litter and try to pick up as much as possible along the way. The day I had solar panels installed on my roof was truly a dream come true! And as I made other changes to reduce household energy use, I realized the simple joy of hanging laundry out in the sunshine and fresh air to dry… no modern, energy-consuming technology needed. But even with all of the changes I’ve made to reduce my footprint, I know this will always be a journey in progress.
I have always been a nature-lover… But in all the busyness of daily life, I realized how little time I was actually spending connecting with and appreciating the incredible natural world that surrounded me. Now, I find myself taking more time to notice the natural wonders I encounter as I go through my day. I pause to watch and listen to the birds in my backyard. I notice the strength and uniqueness of trees as I pass by them, and often find myself stopping to gaze up at their branches against the sky. I marvel at the bees, butterflies, and dragonflies as they visit the flowers in my garden. It’s little moments like these that help to recharge me and remind me of how truly amazing our planet really is… and why it’s so important to protect all living things that share it with us.
Speaking from experience, I know that it takes a conscious effort to keep the Earth in mind as we go about our busy everyday routines. Becoming more aware of our personal impact on the environment and learning how to reduce our footprints is not usually something that can happen overnight. Learning about the environmental challenges we face and how they impact the living world we all depend on is the foundation of developing an eco-conscious mindset. In other words, it’s not just about learning how to live more sustainably, but also about understanding why these changes are so important. And it doesn’t have to happen all at once. Every step we can each take matters, however big or small it may be. And here’s perhaps the best part: Learning to live in ways that are kinder to our Earth – whether it be creating less waste, taking steps to use fewer resources, or helping to protect nature… it simply feels good to live more in harmony with our planet and leave smaller footprints behind.
We might not know each other, but we are all part of the same community. We may live in different places and in different ways, but we all share and depend on our incredible Earth in the very same ways. We can join hands from where we are, right here at this moment, doing what we can with the resources we each have available. Together, our small actions can help to inspire a growing wave of positive change.
**Already have a similar post??
-Picking up litter
-Join conservation orgs
-Learn about and share
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**Add pic and meta** **Title ok? Link to other related posts within each number
Garbage. We make so much of it these days, and it comes with a huge environmental footprint.
Each time we throw something away, the resources that were used to make it become lost forever, never to be used again. **My quote
Challenge yourself to throw less stuff away!
Intro with EPA numbers of household waste?
“Once we really start paying attention to all that we throw away, we often start seeing waste in a whole new light.”
Reference: https://selfeco.com/blogs/selfeco-blog/100-ways-to-live-trash-free-adopt-a-zero-waste-lifestyle
***Add specific link to recycling search pages below:
Find out about Plastic Film Recycling and locate your nearest drop-off bin (U.S. only)
Here are some helpful steps below:
Step 1: Figure out your starting point. Start by taking note of how many bags of garbage you throw away on average each week. Then challenge yourself (and other members of your household, if applicable) to make gradual changes that reduce the amount of waste ending up in the trash bin.
Step 2: Pay close attention to everything you find yourself throwing away. Keep a piece of paper next to your kitchen bin and write down what is going in. You can do this over a few days, a week, or longer.
Step 3: Assess your findings and ask some key questions:
Step 4: Take note of what could be done differently, and make a plan to implement gradual changes. By incorporating the tips above into your routine, your waste should start shrinking in no time!
Every small Earth-friendly step we can each take makes a difference!
Related Posts:
Dissection of— landfill **Check title?
Recycling
Composting
Explore and Learn More:
EPA stats
Circular economy links?
**Add pic, meta, focus keyphrase
Plants from other regions of the Earth that are used in landscaping spread into natural areas through seeds, fruits, and roots– check more? Often grows unchecked because it doesn’t have a”place” in the surrounding ecosystem.
As invasive plants spread, less space and resources are available for native plants – plants that naturally evolved within that ecosystem.
Fewer native plants = less food, shelter, and nesting spots for native wildlife.
Less available habitat can lead to lower populations and biodiversity loss
Use my pics for examples– honey bee, Bradford/callary pear, parrot feather in swamp
We may not think about this often, but we depend on pollinators in many ways. Pollinators play an essential role in the reproduction of many plants and help to keep the ecosystems that support us healthy. The fruits, nuts, and seeds that result from pollination become important food sources for wildlife and people. In fact, we can thank pollinators for 1 out of every 3 bites of food we eat!
But many pollinators are in trouble. The populations of native bees and other pollinators have been shrinking over the last few decades due to many factors, including habitat loss, pesticide use, disease, and other environmental changes.
The good news is that there are many actions we can all take to help protect pollinators and bring their populations back to healthy levels. And many of these can be done right in our own backyards! Read on below to learn more about 14 great ways you can take part in this important movement:
You can help to restore essential pollinator habitats and increase available food sources that pollinators depend on simply by including more native plants in your yard, patio, or balcony.
Since native plants have naturally evolved in the area where you live, they already have a place within the local ecosystem. While often popular for their exotic looks, non-native flowers, shrubs, and trees that evolved in other parts of the world so , native plants can provide more food and other habitat essentials for pollinators, birds, and other local wildlife.
Not sure what to plant? Explore these Ecoregional Planting Guides from the Pollinator Partnership and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s Native Plant Database to discover the best nature-friendly plants for your specific area. Native plants can often be found at your local garden center, but
Have a spare sunny spot in your yard or on your balcony? Consider planting a pollinator garden! Filled with native flowers of different shapes, colors, and bloom times, these gardens are a wonderful way to help support local pollinator populations. Pollinators are also great places to get up close and learn about many of the small natural wonders in your area.
Here are a few helpful resources on pollinator gardening:
Pollinator Garden Tip Sheet | National Wildlife Federation
Create a Balcony Pollinator Garden | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Containers for Pollinators | Better Homes and Gardens
Get your patch on the map! Take part in this growing movement, share photos, and register your pollinator-friendly garden at Journey North.
Manicured lawns have a big impact on our environment. They often require a lot of water, artificial fertilizers, and chemicals to maintain, and they typically are void of biodiversity. The good news is that there are many ways to minimize the environmental impact of your lawn care routine. Avoiding chemical pesticides is a great step in the right direction! Helpful resources like this organic lawn care guide by Beyond Pesticides can guide you along the way.
Assess your current yard layout. Are there areas that you are spending time and money to maintain, but are going unused? Could some areas be used to help nature instead? Expanding flowerbeds with pollinator-friendly native flowers and shrubs, as well as planting more native trees – while shrinking the amount of maintained lawn space – is a great way to support pollinators and other wildlife while also reducing your environmental impact.
When it comes to areas of your yard that are maintained on the shorter side, why not include some low-growing wildflowers and make it a “bee-friendly” lawn? These small flowers that often pop up around lawns in early spring provide an essential supply of pollen and nectar for pollinators when little else has started blooming yet. Check out the Now Mow May campaign and consider joining this growing movement! Even if you can’t do this with your entire lawn, creating small patches of bee-friendly lawn here and there can add up.
Want to learn more about the many benefits of pollinator lawns – as well as some key tips on how to grow them? Check out this great article by Smithsonian Gardens along with the other resources listed at the bottom of this post.
Over 90% of native bee species in North America are solitary bees. Rather than living in social groups or hives, these bees live alone throughout much of their life cycles. They depend on places like hollowed-out branches, fallen leaves, and soft ground to build their nesting sites and stay sheltered throughout the winter.
There are several different things you can do around your yard to help provide shelter and nesting spots for solitary bees and other pollinators. Here are a few:
Ground-nesting bees need access to soft, undisturbed bare ground to be able to make their nesting cavities. Leaving some “mulch-free” areas in garden beds and along borders allows these bees to reach the ground easily.
Many species of butterflies, bees, and other invertebrates rely on fallen leaves for shelter and nesting. Leaving a thin layer of leaves (1-2 inches thick) around trees, shrubs, and garden beds over the winter can help provide essential habitat and protect nesting pollinators. When leaving some leaves for pollinators, be sure not to mulch them– this can kill sheltering insects and destroy delicate cocoons that may be in the leaves.
Note: While decaying leaves can provide natural protective cover and a steady source of nutrients to the ground below, a thick cover of leaves for a long period can be too much for turfgrass to handle.
Many solitary bees nest above ground inside small cavities they find in dried branches and hollow plant stems. Certain plants, such as joe-pye weed, raspberries, and hydrangea, will produce hollow woody stems at the end of their growing season. Rather than cutting them back all the way down to the ground after they finish blooming for the season, leaving a portion of the stems intact can provide ideal nesting spots for many species of native solitary bees. Read more here in this article by the Tufts Pollinator Initiative.
These are hanging open-faced structures filled with dried reed stalks, drilled wood, or other suitable materials that bees can use for nesting. Many can be found in garden supply stores and online, but you can also build one using a few basic materials. Check out this helpful online guide from The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
If you decide to add a pollinator house to your yard, be sure to research how to maintain them properly, so they don’t end up causing more harm to their occupants than good.
For more tips on creating nesting sites for bees in your yard, check out this article from the Xerces Society: 5 Ways To Increase Nesting Habitat For Native Bees
Bees need water like the rest of us! But when foraging around built-up areas, such as residential neighborhoods, they might have trouble finding access to fresh water. There are many ways to create DIY bee baths or water fountains. Many people use simple supplies such as a bowl filled with rocks or floating corks. Bees cannot land in or drink from deep water, so the key is to include landing spots so they can reach it safely. Also, be sure to change the water frequently or include a small pump or fountain to keep the water moving, so you don’t invite mosquitoes.
When you need to move fallen leaves around your yard, consider gently raking rather than using a leaf blower. Leaf blowers can be highly disruptive and damaging to delicate pollinators, nests, and cocoons that might be hidden among the leaves. Not to mention, gas-powered leaf blowers also contribute to pollution!
Spend time observing in your yard and learning about your local pollinators! There are many super-handy apps out there that can help people to identify and learn about the insects, birds, and plants they observe while outside. The iNaturalist app is also a great resource for sharing findings and connecting with others who can help answer questions.
Share your observations of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators with scientists! Citizen science, also often referred to as community science, gets individuals involved in helping scientists gather useful information for their research and projects. Journey North is a hub for all kinds of citizen science projects focused on pollinators and many other wonders of nature, including monarch butterfly and hummingbird migrations. The Great Sunflower Project uses data people provide about the pollinators they observe in yards, gardens, parks, and schools to study population patterns and the potential effects of pesticides. These are a few of the larger well-known programs, but depending on where you live, you might also find local citizen science programs often run by universities, museums, or other local organizations. The iNaturalist app is also a great tool for participating in all kinds of nature-related community science programs.
Greenspaces around municipal buildings, corporate parks, businesses, and along sidewalks and roadsides provide a perfect opportunity to help pollinators. Large areas of manicured, uniform lawns require large amounts of time, energy, and other resources to maintain. Instead, they can be transformed into mini-meadows that help not only local pollinators, but also and other wildlife, too. Not to mention, they can also require less maintenance and add beauty and interest.
Pollinator Week is celebrated every year in June. Managed by the Pollinator Partnership, this event helps to raise awareness about the importance of protecting pollinators and brings community members together through pollinator-friendly events and activities.
Whether it might be taking pictures of the bees and butterflies in your garden, or you’ve discovered some new occupants in your bee hotel… Share, share, share! Help to inspire others to join the movement to protect pollinators by sharing photos, stories, and successes on social media and with family and friends.
There are countless non-profit organizations out there dedicated to raising awareness about the need to protect pollinators. A few that I mention and share resources from in this post include:
Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
The National Wildlife Federation
Related Posts:
We need pollinators…
— Ways we can help make our gardens a little greener – adjust actual name
Explore and Learn More:
Pollinators need you. You need pollinators | Pollinator Partnership
Wild Bee Conservation | Xerces Society
10 Ways to Save Pollinators | National Wildlife Federation
Creating a Pollinator Paradise | The Nature Conservancy
Leave the Leaves! | Xerces Society
Native Plants Database | Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
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**Research and add more!
-Pollinators- cocoons, nests
-Disrupt soil, ground surface
-Noise pollution– birds, other animals
-Gas powered: Ozone, carbon emission
**Add pic, tags, and meta** **CHANGE title??
Incorporate clip below in intro:
Trees are magnificent for so many reasons! They clean the air, produce fresh oxygen, bring us shade, and provide essential habitat for wildlife… just to name a few.
Trees. As we go about our daily routines, it’s often easy to pass them by without giving them much notice. Whether they are in a forest, at a park, or in our yards, trees play so many important roles within our environment. And when we add up all of the different ways that people and other living things depend on them, the well-known saying “Have you hugged a tree today?” makes perfect sense.
-Reduce noise
-Clean air
-Fresh oxygen
-Rain
-Food
-Erosion control
-Control
-Clean water
-Habitat, shelter, bring birds
-Beauty, fall colors
READ AND INCORPORATE POINTS AND SUGGESTIONS
https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/build-healthy-cities/cities-stories/benefits-of-trees-forests/
https://theconversation.com/hug-a-tree-the-evidence-shows-it-really-will-make-you-feel-better-21924
*Improve air and water quality* https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/units/urban/local-resources/downloads/Tree_Air_Qual.pdf
https://ourworldindata.org/deforestation
https://www.treehugger.com/reasons-why-forests-are-important-4868826
*Create shade and help lower air temperatures*
*Help to reduce soil erosion and flooding*
*Provide shelter and food for birds and other animals (including humans)*
*Reduce the effects of climate change*
**MORE?
And…
They bring beauty and life to the
landscapes around us
https://www.nwf.org/Trees-for-Wildlife/About/Trees-Make-a-Difference
https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/forests_practice/importance_forests/
https://www.conservation.org/stories/11-forest-conservation-facts-you-need-to-know
https://www.conservation.org/stories/11-deforestation-facts-you-need-to-know
https://onetreeplanted.org/pages/tree-facts
So the next time you are outside, take the time to stop and appreciate the trees you pass by. Cherish them… admire their beauty and all of their “superpowers”… Do all you can to protect them. And plant one if you can. (Of course, native trees are always the best choice for planting!)
Related Posts:
So many ways to plant a tree– check title
Facts about deforestation
Explore and Learn More:
Hug a tree – the evidence shows it really will make you feel better | The Conversation
**Add pics and meta!!** **Split into 2 posts– native and helping nature in yard?
Use to get basic tips and benefits of native plants– Vermont specific:
https://www.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/Extension-Community-Horticulture/Gardening_for_Pollinators_and_Beneficial_Insects_2021_.pdf
Why? Benefits to nature and LOW Maintenance compared to introduced species
Pollinator gardening
Different blooming times throughout seasons
Migrating butterflies
Leave the leaves! — move to another post on fall-specific tips?
Leaving dried heads of coneflowers and black-eyed Susans for goldfinches and others?
Rewilding parts of your yard
** ADD LINKS TO DATABASES
Plant finder
Lady bird johnson database
Why Native Plants Matter | Audubon
Certify Your Habitat | National Wildlife Federation
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Use for resources– DO NOT LINK
Add pic, meta, focus keyphrase
**Change main pic?? Move ladybug pic to ladybug project pic?
***Also known as “community science” **Great family project and way for kids to get involved
Add this link to NWF site!!
https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Understanding-Conservation/Citizen-Science
Reference:
https://journeynorth.org/ **Lots of easy project to participate in!
**Add links to specific nature programs from resources below–
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/idea/citizen-science-projects/?page=1
Help Bees & Other Native Pollinators With 3 Citizen Science Projects
Add actual link to below??
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/expeditions/trip-types/family-journeys/citizen-science-inaturalist/
There are so many programs– are few of the more well-known ones are highlighted below. But there are SO many opportunities around to get involved, and many can be found with a quick online search or through the resources below. Even apps like eBird, PlantNet and iNaturalist are actually part of citizen science projects!
Citizen science projects focusing on birds
There are several citizen science projects that people can participate in to help scientists study and protect birds from around the world, including Project FeederWatch, NestWatch, and the Great Backyard Bird Count each February.
Learn more about them below! **Add videos about each project**
Move this pic to post about getting kids involved in nature**
Global Big Day – spring and fall – alongside Migratory Bird Day
https://monarchjointventure.org/get-involved/study-monarchs-community-science-opportunities
https://www.saveourmonarchs.org/blog/4-ways-to-become-a-monarch-citizen-scientist
https://www.fws.gov/savethemonarch/
https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/Monarch_Butterfly/documents/MilkweedInfoSheet.pdf
https://monarchwatch.org/
In the U.K., programs such as —— The Great Butterfly count
No Mow May
The Great Sunflower Project & others to study pollinator populations
https://www.greatsunflower.org/
The Lost Ladybug Project:
http://www.lostladybug.org/participate.php
Explore a huge range of citizen science projects going on worldwide here at iNaturalist
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Would you like to have less lawn to maintain and do something to help nature at the same time? Consider rewilding!
What is rewilding?
Reference– link too?? https://rewilding.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/RewildingBiod.pdf
Ideas:
Get tips to add:
https://www.eatingwell.com/article/7958957/rewilding-lawn-pollinators-environment-how-to/
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/apr/09/how-to-rewild-lawn-garden — for reference and possible link! Good facts
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/meet-ecologist-who-wants-unleash-wild-backyard-180974372/
https://www.vnews.com/Column-Rewilding-the-yard-25384497
https://www.gardeningetc.com/us/advice/rewilding-your-garden
CHANGE When we stop to think about the fact that If we stop to think about all of the natural land cover that has been gradually replaced with houses, buildings, roads, parking lots, wherever there is now a house, driveway, or flat, uniform lawn… at one point in the past, these areas were in a natural state.
In many areas, the development continues. Patches of trees continue to be torn down to make way for new neighborhoods, parking lots, and road widening projects.
When we think of restoring biodiversity, we might think mainly about protecting large areas of natural land. But even privately-owned land – right down to all of the yards surrounding peoples’ houses – can play an important role in rewilding!
When it comes to the properties around our houses, we may not have much space to work with. But every wild space, no matter how small it might be, can provide important habitat for wildlife. Every tree, every patch of nectar-rich flowers can help!
Just think… what if more and more people started to give even small parts of their yard back to nature? There would be more trees, more food sources for wildlife, more nesting places for birds… These kinds of things bring a sense of connection to nature.
*REMOVE/CHANGE??* But so much land that people and businesses own gets regularly watered, mowed, and sprayed with chemicals… What if more people started to restore some of their
Try to pre
First things first, wherever we can protect individual trees and other natural areas – even if they are small pockets – can help.
-Planting native trees
-Participate in the natural lawn movement – No Mow May – and let it grow… tree seedlings will often pop up on their own where land is left undisturbed, especially here are other trees in the same area. Just in the same way that new trees will grow in a forest in a new opening where a tree has fallen, or how trees can eventually fill in when vacant lots have been left to grow naturally.
So here’s the bottom line: Whether we have a large area of land to work with or we just want to bring some nature back to a small corner of our yard. Every little step we can each take in restoring nature can add up to make huge strides in safeguarding our planet.
Learning about and getting involved in local conservation projects
Supporting conservation organizations that are working to protect biodiversity
Help raise awareness on World Rewilding Day and throughout the year.
Related Posts:
Making your yard a little “greener” – check title of post
Explore and Learn More:
Give Your Yard Back to Nature | Popular Mechanics
Wild Challenge: Let It Grow | The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
World Rewilding Day | Official Website
Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard, by Douglas W. Tallamy (Book, 2019)
As more of us join hands and make changes, the bigger difference we can make!
**Add pic, meta**
**Change angle of this post– below repeats what is in other posts (confirm/compare all points) and maybe discuss more the general role we can all play to help support nature? discuss habitat needs in general, how supporting and restoring nature would help various environmental problems, and then link to other posts!
-More habitat for birds and other animals
-More food – natural sources (trees, shrubs, flowers) supplemented with feeders
-More islands of nature, no matter how big or small
-Rewilding
-Native trees and flowers
-Natural lawn
-Support restoration and rewilding efforts
Reference:
https://www.eatingwell.com/article/7958957/rewilding-lawn-pollinators-environment-how-to/
Explore and Learn More:
Give Your Yard Back to Nature | Popular Mechanics
11 Tips for Feeding Backyard Birds | Audubon
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For reference:
https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/
Intro to video:
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
Biodiversity – our strongest natural defense against climate change | United Nations
**Add pic, meta, tags**
–History of word biodiversity, definition, importance
Choose best video– or both??
Related Posts:
Nature compact
Other nature posts– bringing nature back
Explore and Learn More:
As biodiversity degrades, nature’s solutions are lost forever | United Nations
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World Environment Day, June 5, 2021, marked the official launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), “a global mission to revive billions of hectares, from forests to farmlands, from the top of mountains to the depth of the sea.”… “Only with healthy ecosystems can we enhance people’s livelihoods, counteract climate change and stop the collapse of biodiversity.” (UN.org)
**Site actual link above*** **Link posts/exterior links with points below**
For reference:
https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/
Even though this may seem like an enormous mission, there are so many things we as individuals can do to help protect and restore our environment!
**Be aware of the environmental impacts of the things we buy and strive to become more eco-conscious consumers. This includes avoiding single-use items, being prepared with reusables, and choosing plastic-free whenever possible… supporting sustainable agricultural practices…
**Avoid single-use items, be prepared with reusables, and choose plastic-free when possible!
**Repair, restore, repurpose, rehome, and recycle all that we can to minimize wasted resources.
**Familiarize ourselves with our own carbon footprints, and do what we can to reduce them.
**Take steps to reduce food waste, and compost food scraps and other organic materials so their nutrients can be recycled back into the soil and used again.
**Participate in clean-up events and pick up litter (safely) whenever we see it so it doesn’t end up harming wildlife or finding its way into waterways and the ocean.
**Do what we can to promote and restore nature in outdoor spaces, from “rewilding” parts of our yards, to including native plants and wildflowers in gardens and on balconies, to planting new trees… And of course, avoiding the use of toxic chemicals.
**Support conservation and other environmental organizations that are dedicated to protecting our planet.
**Help spread awareness to others about all the things we can do to help our environment.
Working together, each of our small actions can add up to make a big difference!
Explore and Learn More:
The latest Living Planet Report has been published by WWF, and the message is very clear: We must take action now – together – to protect and restore nature and safeguard Earth’s biodiversity.
Here are some of the key findings from the 2022 report:
Watch the video from the 2020 Living Planet Report here:
The first Living Planet Report was published by WWF in 1998, and new reports have been released every 2 years since then.
Explore and Learn More:
Living Planet Report 2022 | WWF and Zoological Society of London
Animal populations experience average decline of almost 70% since 1970, report reveals | The Guardian – October 12, 2022
5 key drivers of the nature crisis | UN Environment Programme
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Use summary of report below for facts– PDF saved in downloads
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277584833_Marine_Anthropogenic_Litter
**Add pic, meta, focus keyphrase
**Add more and change number??
**add intro to deforestation
-Paper– purchasing and recycling
-Wood products– second-hand, sustainable
–Food – more plant-based, watch palm oil
-Support conservation orgs
-Help to spread the word
Related Posts:
15 Eye-opening facts about deforestation
Eco-conscious consumer
Explore and Learn More:
**Add pic, meta, focus keyphrase
**Find good video to include and then add WATCH tag!!
Use basic facts from video below and then delete–
Did You Know?
From washing machines to personal care products, our homes can contribute to microplastic pollution…often without us even knowing it!
**Define microplastics and how they travel from homes to waterways**
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html
Reference: https://sustainability.yale.edu/explainers/yale-experts-explain-microplastics
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/plastic-planet-how-tiny-plastic-particles-are-polluting-our-soil
Also linked below in Explore section
https://wesr.unep.org/media/docs/early_warning/microplastics.pdf
Common personal care products can contribute to microplastic pollution in two main ways.
You can learn more about possible sources of microplastics in your bathroom and some plastic-free alternatives by visiting this interactive page created by the Clean Seas campaign and the UN Environment Programme:
UN Environment Clean Seas’ What’s in your bathroom?
This video by National Geographic also contains great information and tips:
shedding over time
— Hanging laundry up to dry– gentle on fabrics
—
**More?**
Related Posts: (adjust titles)
Plastic-free bathroom (title)
Kitchen (
Hanging Laundry to dry
Explore and Learn More:
What are Microplastics? | NOAA
10 Simple Ways to Avoid Microplastics in Your Everyday Life | EcoWatch
Microplastics: Trouble in the Food Chain | United Nations Environment Programme (Report)
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**Add pic, meta, keyphrase
Pollination. It’s one of nature’s many wonders. We depend on this magical interaction between plants and animals, yet it often goes on behind the scenes without notice.
In his moving TED Talk, Louie Schwartzberg shares incredible footage of some of Earth’s pollinators in action. This video shows us the beauty and wonder of pollination and reminds us why we must take action to protect pollinators… before it’s too late. (< 8 min)
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
Pollinators need you. You need pollinators. | Pollinator Partnership
Creating a Pollinator Paradise | The Nature Conservancy
Pollinator Gardening Tip Sheet | National Wildlife Federation
**Add Tags!!**
In 2005– Millennium Ecosystem Assessment – https://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/index.html
understand how our own choices and actions affect the environment, the better choices we can make to live more sustainably.
As we set off on a journey to reduce our footprints, it can be very helpful to spend some time exploring and understanding where we stand in terms of our own personal habits that we are used to. This can provide an important baseline for change and a great way to —
How many Earths would we need if everyone lived the way we did?
The Footprint Network is a global organization that helps bring about awareness about our personal impact on the Earth based on our individual lifestyle and habits.
By answering a series of questions based on lifestyle habits, people can find out their personal “Overshoot Day” and find out the answer to this eye-opening question:
How many Earth’s would we need if everyone lived the way we did?
Hint: The more details you provide by clicking— , the more accurate the calculation will be!
Curious to calculate your Ecological Footprint?
Also often known as an Ecological Footprint—carbon footprint included under it.
Global Footprint Network – Ecological Footprint Calculator
CarbonFootprint.com – Carbon Calculator
**Another carbon calc– try! Include both? https://mossy.earth/methodologies/carbon-footprint-calculator
Carbon Footprint – Plastic Calculator
WaterCalculator.org – What’s Your Water Footprint?
Climate change food calculator: What’s your diet’s carbon footprint?
How many Earths would we need if everyone lived the way we did?
The Footprint Network is a global organization that helps bring about awareness about our personal impact on the Earth based on our individual lifestyle and habits.
After answering a series of questions in their detailed Footprint Calculator, it will tell us a few things:
Hint: The more details you provide by clicking— , the more accurate the calculation will be!
Curious to calculate your Ecological Footprint?
Also often known as an Ecological Footprint—carbon footprint included under it.
***Explain Earth overshoot Day***
Explore and Learn More:
**Add pic and meta– work on title!!
**Add pics and meta**
Goes way beyond just looking bad —We often hear about the need to avoid littering to keep our
Common litter items
Impacts: Check for others??
Wildlife
Soil and water pollution – microplastics, chemicals
Ocean
We must teach kids about littering. Even though this one might seem like a basic one to know, if kids aren’t made aware—- they are more likely—-
**Add meta, pic, tags, CHANGE # in title?
https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/documents/HummingbirdBrochures/HummingbirdGuideAK.pdf
https://www.thespruce.com/hummingbirds-of-north-america-4121900
https://georgiawildlife.com/out-my-backdoor-hummingbird-migration-begins-your-backyard
Related Posts:
Pollinator garden??
Citizen Science **CHeck titles and link
Explore and Learn More:
Hummingbird Migration Project | Journey North (Citizen science project)
**Add my own pics, meta, add more tags?
Mistaken for causing allergies– ragweed
The Goldenrod Challenge — https://www.discoverlife.org/goldenrod/
There’s been a lot of buzz about pollinators lately. We depend on them in many ways, but pollinator populations around the world have been shrinking. Why are pollinators so important? What is causing them to disappear? And how can we help protect them? Read on and watch the video below to learn more.
Pollinators play an essential role in maintaining biodiversity and the health of ecosystems.
It is estimated that between 75-95% of flowering plants depend on animal pollinators in their life cycles. Besides bees, butterflies, and a range of other insects, this important group of animals also includes birds, mammals, and even some reptiles. And while they may appear very different from one another, all pollinators carry out the same important function within ecosystems: As they move between flowers looking for nectar and pollen to eat, they pick up pollen on their bodies and transfer it to other flowers. This necessary step in plant fertilization leads to the production of new seeds and fruits necessary for the next generations of these plants to grow.
By helping plants reproduce, pollinators support biodiversity and play a key role in maintaining the health of ecosystems we all depend on.
People and wildlife depend on pollinators for many of the foods they eat.
Many seeds, nuts, and fruits produced by animal-pollinated plants are important food sources for wildlife and people. In fact, we depend on pollinators for 1 out of every 3 bites of food we eat! Crops that rely heavily on pollination by bees and other insects include blueberries, apples, almonds, melons, and squashes.
The populations of many pollinators – especially many species of bees – have been shrinking in many parts of the world over the last several decades. This is happening due to several different factors, including:
The recent decline in pollinator populations threatens not only our own food supply but also the overall health of ecosystems we depend on. With this in mind, we must take steps to bring them back!
Learn more in this short and very informative video by the Xerces Society:
Pollinators might be in trouble, but the good news is that there are many things you can do to help them right in your own backyard. A big part of supporting pollinators at home involves protecting and restoring essential habitats they depend on for food, shelter, and nesting sites. This includes adding more native plants that grow naturally in the region where you live, as well as maintaining your yard with a natural, environmentally friendly approach.
Explore the resources below to learn more about what you can do to protect pollinators in your outdoor spaces:
Ecoregional Planting Guides | Pollinator Partnership (U.S. & Canada)
Plant and Create Pollinator Habitat Gardens | National Wildlife Federation
Native Plants Database | Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (North America)
No Mow May | Bee City USA
Bee Friendlier With Your Lawncare | Xerces Society
Planting and maintaining a bee lawn | University of Minnesota Extension
Leave the Leaves to Help Pollinators | UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden
10 Ways to Save Pollinators | National Wildlife Federation
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
Who Are the Pollinators? | Xerces Society
Pollinators need you. You need pollinators. | Pollinator Partnership
Pollinators in Trouble | National Park Service
Pollinators and Climate Change | National Park Service
The Truth About Honey Bees | National Wildlife Federation
U.S. Lists a Bumble Bee Species as Endangered for First Time | Scientific American
**Add pic, meta, keyphrase — change number in title?
Resources:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/pollinators/what-is-a-pollinator.htm
https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/animals/
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/pollinators/pollinators-in-trouble.htm
**Add pic and meta**
–Add pic, meta– keyphrase– add more and adjust number in title??
— pic, meta, tags, change title?
Start with who coined term
**Add pic, meta– LATER post!! **Change title??
Not only explore… but appreciate, connect with nature
Biophilia- definition
Add post– green trend towards “greening” office spaces/urban landscapes
Before the time of towns and cities and modern ways of living, humans lived immersed in the natural world, just as all wild animals exist on Earth still today.
Health benefits of spending time in nature
Mention Shinrin-yoku
Noticing the little things… backyard, tree along the street, local parks– **inosculation pic**
E.O. Wilson book, The Nature of Nature
**Add pic and meta
Regenerative agriculture– define– we can apply these same principles in our own gardens!
No toxic pesticides– manual, non-toxic homemade sprays, deterrents, biological control
-Add compost back into the soil
-Let the soil be!
-Rain barrel
How the 12 Principles of Permaculture can transform your garden (and our world)
Ideas: https://www.wellandgood.com/regenerative-gardening/
ADD!!
Another article? What is the urban greening movement?
**Take our “urban greening” tag? Add tags???
This great TED-Ed talk below helps to paint a clear picture of why trees and other green spaces are so essential in cities and other built-up areas:
Reference:
https://crownbees.com/blog/post/5-urban-habitats-in-which-solitary-bees-thrive.html
https://www.sustainability-times.com/clean-cities/rooftop-gardens-in-urban-jungles-can-provide-home-to-insects-and-birds/
From rooftop farms to vertical forests, cities are finding creative ways to bring essential green spaces into urban landscapes.
Rooftop gardens, green roofs, parks
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bus+stops+bee+stops
**Flowers for pollinators on top of bus stops! (videos above)
Rooftop farming
Plants growing up sides of buildings
Food forests — feature one in Atlanta?
Vertical forests
Grass under trams
Converting parts of streets/parking lots– Sweden??
Check out Singapore’s Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay!
https://www.sustainability-times.com/clean-cities/rooftop-gardens-in-urban-jungles-can-provide-home-to-insects-and-birds/
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Intro documentary
Move points below to another post??
Related Posts:
-Permaculture
-Composting
-Food Waste
Explore and Learn More:
Planet-Based Diet Calculator
The Living Soil?
**Add pics and meta** Alt title? Change number in title?
The research is out: Shifting towards a more plant-based diet can go a long way to reducing our impact on the environment.
But even for those who don’t feel it would be possible to switch to a totally plant-based diet, here’s the good news: Just even incorporating a meat-free meal once or twice a week can make a significant difference in our carbon footprint!
Quote research
-Start with your favorite veggies, herbs, and flavorings, and find recipes to make with them. Do you love ginger? Spicy food?
-Prioritize what needs to be used first in your fridge-
-Vary your protein sources– list
-Have some easy meals handy
-If you would like to reduce consumption of meat products but don’t want to completely say goodbye to those flavors and textures, give plant-based meat alternatives a try!
-Protein from many regular meat-based recipes can often be swapped out for plant-based substitutes: Plant-based milk, cheeses (store bought or made at home using sunflower seeds, cashews, or almonds) tofu for chicken, or lentils/plant-based ground for ground beef
More tips here? Or create other post?
This great video made by Pick Up Limes is filled with healthy plant-based eating hacks, and also includes some great tips for reducing food waste, too!
Plant-based cooking websites such as Pick Up Limes (see video above) can provide endless sources of inspiration for colorful, healthy, eating.
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
Eat less meat: UN climate-change report calls for change to human diet | Nature
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https://www.eea.europa.eu/signals/signals-2019-content-list/articles/soil-land-and-climate-change
List Problems/recent stats- over tilling, pesticides/fertilizers
List ways we depend on healthy soil
-food production, erosion, climate control– research more
What can we do?
-Compost
-Avoid synthetic pesticides and fertilizers in your yard
-Support farmers who use regenerative practices in growing their crops
-Buy organic
** Add more?
Introduce Living Soil– Full link below– remove or keep trailer and full video link?? Needed? watch again?
Related posts:
Explore and Learn More:
Soil, land, and climate change | European Environment Agency
Living Soil (Full Documentary) | Soil Health Institute
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Define Permaculture
Benefits
Video below
How the 12 Principles of Permaculture can transform your garden (and our world)
WATCH Full VIDEO:
**Add pic, edit meta??, add keyphrase and related posts– link back to CI site
Conservation International series ***13 videos***
Narrated by some of the world’s most recognized celebrity voices, the Nature is Speaking series by Conservation International delivers a powerful message about how humans are affecting the Earth. Most of these videos are between 1-2 minutes long and are definitely worth a watch… for our planet’s sake!
**Remove soil story??? Just focus on Drawdown results and what healthy soil does for us in another post
Soil
Composting
Explore and Learn More:
Soil Health and Climate Change | Sierra Club
**Add pic and meta!!** Change number??
Started another post in computer?– bring in tips from IG posts —
Tips to incorporate:
https://www.greenamerica.org/vote-with-your-dollar-toolkit
***READ and incorporate below** DELETE!!
Everything we eat, everything we own, everything we buy has an impact on our environment. There are so many different things to consider!
From extraction, harvesting, and consumption of the resources used to produce them,
Chemicals and pollution often released in their manufacturing…
Packaging and shipping…
Where they will end up once they are no longer needed happens to them once they are no longer needed anymore.
~ Avoid single-use plastics, use reusables, and buy products plastic-free whenever possible –list examples
~ Choose paper products that don’t directly contribute to deforestation
~ Opt for household cleaners and personal care products that are kinder to the environment and do not contain harsh chemicals that can pollute waterways
~ Look for products that are made with recycled or upcycled content
~ Pay attention to packaging– Follow these steps: Lowest amount of packaging, plastic-free is possible, easily recyclable, compostable
~Buy local & in-season produce Check out the Seasonal Food Guide (also an app!)
~ Consider buying “pre-loved” clothing, accessories, and household items so things that already exist are kept in use… This helps conserve resources and reduces pollution, too
~Try to reduce our food footprint (meats, also mention palm oil, soy)
~ Support sustainable agricultural practices
~ Pay attention to labels- palm oil, rainforest alliance,
-When shopping online, look for stores that offer carbon-neutral and plastic-free shipping
~The most sustainable option, of course, is to buy less and use what we already have – for as long as we can!
**Add Pics, change meta? ** Add # in title??
First, let’s cover the basics: Why red
Reducing fossil fuel use Even though a transition towards clean energy is underway in many areas, a fossil fuel power plants are still a major source of America’s energy. *LINK REF HERE & change wording?? . They —– list details in NRDC article. And while conserving energy is especially important in places that still get all or most of their power from fossil fuel sources, it’s even important in places that get their energy from cleaner, renewable sources, like wind or solar.
This is because even though renewable energy sources might not release greenhouse gases and other pollution like fossil fuel power plants do, many resources are need to make the materials needed, and pollution that is created during resource extraction and manufacturing has to be considered, too. and it takes energy to transport infrastructure like solar panels and wind turbines, for example, to where they need to be. On top of this, solar farms and win turbines need land as well. So the more energy people demand, the more resources, energy, pollution, and land will be used up to meet demands.
Is all of this to say that we should just stick with fossil fuels? No! Certainly not, as they are not sustainable… for many reasons. But it does make a case for the fact that no matter where our energy comes from – fossil fuels or not – it’s important that we use it wisely.
So, what can we do?
Conserving energy at home goes way beyond turning off lights when you leave the room- although this is definitely a great energy-saving habit to get in to, and an easy one to teach kids, too. Below is a list of some energy-saving tips that can help reduce household energy use!
-Easy obvious ones- lights, turn off when not using
-Adjusting thermostat- even 1 degree – link stats
Check your thermostat. Could your thermostat be set slightly lower in winter and higher in summer? Adjusting by just one degree can make a huge difference over time in your energy use – and your utility bills! Be conscious of energy use and look into clean energy alternatives.
-Insulation and caulking
-Efficient appliances — NRDC hybrid water heater? Recycle old appliances if upgrading
-Hanging laundry
-Unplugging electronics and chargers
-E-footprint
-Don’t turn on over too soon– even though many recipes say to preheat as first step!
More Ideas:
https://greenlogic.com/blog/the-top-5-biggest-users-of-electricity-in-your-home
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/reducing-electricity-use-and-costs
https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/climatechange/what-you-can-do-home_.html
https://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/why-is-it-important-conserve-electricity
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
Reducing Electricity Use and Costs | U.S. Department of Energy
Fossil Fuels: The Dirty Facts | Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
**Add pic and meta, more tags** **Change number in title?
Only quote expert views/points
https://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/2021/03/17/positive-impact-organic-foods
Many people choose to buy organic to reduce their exposure to chemical pesticide residues from food. And while this can no doubt be a wise choice when it comes to caring about our own personal health, buying organic is a great way to support Earth-friendly farming practices.
Check here for more benefits to list:
https://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/2021/03/17/positive-impact-organic-foods
Include EWG?
The Environmental Working Group publishes a helpful guide every year called —
Explore and Learn More:
The Positive Impact of Organic Foods | University of Colorado Environmental Center
We All Live Downstream – The Truth About Pesticides | Clean Water Action
Organic September | Soil Association (UK)
Dirty Dozen – EWG’s 2022 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce | Environmental Working Group
Clean Fifteen – EWG’s 2022 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce | Environmental Working Group
When it comes to plastic recycling, its become a complicated mess — ****make this article ***List Reasons Why?***
Use link below for ideas and confirm facts– but don’t link because contains some inaccuracies:
https://www.plasticsforchange.org/blog/which-plastic-can-be-recycled
-list reasons- different types, values are different, cheap to make, colors
Different rules and not the same things collected in different areas
Exporting, changes – China
Systems not set up
Some plastics too small, too complex
No demand for cheaper plastics
Most plastics are not effectively recycled, meaning they are not used to make something of equal function and value. Instead, most plastics today – when they are recycled – end up downcycled—**Explain** not recycled to make the same thing—more resources from the Earth
Recycling is one of those things that just seems like one of those basic, eco-friendly things to do. We have good intentions when we place things into the blue bin, and take comfort knowing that they will be turned into something new…
But as it turns out, it’s not as simple as we might think – especially when it comes to plastic.
Some of the reasons for this include the fact that different kinds of plastic can’t be recycled together, and many areas do not have the necessary facilities to sort and process it all. Another factor is that the cost of making new plastic from virgin materials is typically low, which can decrease the demand and value of used plastics. Bottles and jugs with #1 or #2 on them have the highest value for recycling compared to other types of plastic.
Watch the eye-opening video below to learn more:
Background Info: https://earth911.com/home-garden/plastic-crisis-is-here/
https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2018/04/04/7-things-you-didnt-know-about-plastic-and-recycling/
Old– just to refresh background story: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/03/china-has-stopped-accepting-our-trash/584131/
https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2018/04/04/7-things-you-didnt-know-about-plastic-and-recycling/
https://www.plasticsforchange.org/blog/which-plastic-can-be-recycled
https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/897692090/how-big-oil-misled-the-public-into-believing-plastic-would-be-recycled
https://e360.yale.edu/features/piling-up-how-chinas-ban-on-importing-waste-has-stalled-global-recycling
REFERENCE ONLY: Too attacking: https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/environment-plastic-oil-recycling/
For background info ONLY: https://www.treehugger.com/plastic-packaging-store-drop-off-label-5188913
When we take the time to recycle, we are helping to conserve natural resources, save energy, and cut back on the amount of waste going to landfills or ending up causing problems in our environment. But when it comes to plastics, recycling can get complicated! Since there are many different kinds of plastic, they often have to be collected and handled in different ways.
Briefly touch on other materials
But did you know that when it comes to the story of plastic recycling, things get very complicated?
Here are a few facts about plastic that helps us better understand the whole picture:
**Add list of plastic facts from IG post!
It is estimated that only around 9% of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled.
What can we do to help the situation? Try to reduce our plastic use, especially the single-use kind, as much as we can!
Intro the movie:
**Add meta***
Reference:
https://www.globalrecyclingday.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/ManifestoFINAL.pdf
https://sciencing.com/what-are-the-issues-around-recycling-13724412.html **Factual error– don’t link, just use info!! (Not correct about amount of plastic)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/21/us-plastic-recycling-landfills
https://www.consumerreports.org/recycling/whats-gone-wrong-with-plastic-recycling/
https://www.consumerreports.org/recycling/smarter-which-plastics-are-actually-recyclable-a4433898936/
Videos??
Explore and Learn More:
What’s Gone Wrong With Plastic Recycling? | Consumer Reports – April 30, 2020
The Myth About Recycling Plastic? It Works | EcoWatch – September 20, 2020
U.S. companies use misleading “recyclable” labels on hundreds of plastic products | Greenpeace
Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made | *Groundbreaking study by— Cite date and authors
***??? News: U.S recycling plan article- EPA announcement? and new recyclable plastic article??
Add meta– change title?? **Video journey
Palm Oil scan mobile app https://www.cmzoo.org/conservation/orangutans-palm-oil/palm-oil-scan-mobile-app/
For reference: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink/rspo-criticisms-investigated
rspo.org
Copied from other post–
Pay attention to palm oil. Palm oil is found in many common food items and household products, and can appear in ingredient lists under many different names. Here’s the problem: As demand for it continues to grow, the expansion of palm oil plantations has had a devastating impact on tropical regions around the world. Many whole foods and other minimally processed, natural food and other products don’t contain palm oil (or other oil substitutes) at all. But if you do buy products that contain palm oil or aren’t really sure, the PalmOil Scan mobile app can help you pick the most sustainable options. This app allows you to scan or search products right at the store to determine which companies are members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Those that are members have committed to using palm oil from sustainable sources that don’t contribute to further deforestation.
Copied wording– EDIT:
The conversion of biodiverse-rich, carbon-storing tropical forests around the world. The majority of the world’s palm oil supply now comes from Indonesia and Malaysia, which are home to many endangered species, such as orangutans and tigers.
Maybe list some key facts, but ***Let videos do the main job of explaining!***
This powerful video by Greenpeace helps us to see the problem of rainforest destruction from the perspective of the orangutans who are losing their homes due to unsustainable palm oil production.
***ADD VIDEO???!
Solutions?
-Best way– Whole, minimally processed foods — healthiest too!
-If products you are using do have palm oil– use app– many companies now specifically address the problem of palm oil and are committed to using palm oil that isn’t linked to further deforestation.
Explore and Learn More:
Palm Oil | WWF
8 Things to know about palm oil | WWF-UK
Endangered species threatened by unsustainable palm oil production | WWF
The Years of Living Dangerously, Episode 102: End of the Woods (Full Episode on YouTube)
https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/which-everyday-products-contain-palm-oil
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink/what-rspo
Outline history of RSPO
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https://oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Annual-Report_FINALWebVersion.pdf
Each year, The Ocean Conservancy joins hands with other organizations to gather hundreds of thousands of volunteers from all around the world for one common purpose: To clean up trash found washed up onto beaches, laying along riverbanks and lakeshores, and collecting along coastlines around our planet.
Here is a summary of the numbers from their 2019 cleanup, as published in their 2020 report: EDIT with New Numbers!!!!
Working together,
943,195 Volunteers from around the globe
Collected
20,772,394 Pounds of Trash
along 24,456 Miles of Coastline.
In total, they collected
32,485,488 items of ocean trash…
And most of these items were things that people used only once and then threw away.
***Insert my own infographic!!****
Beginning in 2017, a new trend began to take shape during the International Coastal Cleanup. This was the first year that all 10 of the most common types of ocean trash collected were made from the same material: Plastic. And most of them were the single-use kind.
How all of this trash is getting into the ocean and the problems it is causing for marine life (and all other living things, including us) are huge questions that are being studied by scientists and environmental organizations around the world.
But by simply looking at the types and quantities of man-made items being washed up on the shore, we can learn a lot about our lifestyle habits and how they are affecting our environment… and these results can help us to reflect on the importance of making changes to take better care of our planet.
Ocean Trash: What we can learn, and how we can help
Here are some things you can do to help reverse the trends of ocean trash:
Read the full 2021 International Coastal Cleanup Report here.
To learn more and access reports from previous years, visit the Fighting for Trash Free Seas program page on The Ocean Conservancy’s website.
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Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
Official Trailer: A Plastic Ocean
Plastic Calculator | EarthDay.org
Add pics, meta, tags **Change title??
How this curbside compost collection company has already made a huge difference
Curbside compost pickup services can help make composting even easier by collecting compostable materials from homes, businesses, and other places and bringing them to large-scale composting facilities where they can break down and then be recycled back into the soil…. Instead of ending up in a landfill, where they end up going to waste.
CompostNow is one such company offering curbside composting pick-up services to homes, offices, and restaurants around Raleigh and Asheville, NC, area in 2011, and has since expanded to Asheville, NC, Charleston, SC, and the metro Atlanta area. The list of what they collect includes all kinds of food scraps, including meat and dairy, as well as paper products and other certified compostable materials.
CompostNow members are given the option of having bags of nutrient-rich compost delivered back to use at their own homes or, if they prefer, they can choose to donate their share of compost back to local farmers and gardens. This company also gives each member the opportunity to track their individual positive impact on the environment by weighing compostables each time they are collected by showing them how must waste they have diverted from landfills, how much compost they have created, and how many pounds of methane they have avoided.
CompostNow offers some very eye-opening figures on their Impact page that help to illustrate the difference their members alone have made since they began collecting compostables in 2011:
Since 2011, their customers have…
diverted over 28 million pounds of organic materials from landfills;
This has avoided 3 million pounds of methane emissions from being released…
…which is the equivalent of taking 7 thousand cars off the road for a year.
With the organic materials they have collected,
they have been able to create over 9 million pounds of nutrient-rich compost…
…which is enough to grow over 28 million tomato plants,
saving their garden partners $65K in compost costs,
while also reducing the need for herbicides and fertilizers.
Less waste, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and healthier soils… it’s clearly a win-win for us and our environment!
Just imagine…
These are numbers from one company, collecting compostable materials from members who have chosen to participate in their program in just a few cities…
It’s easy to see how fast these numbers could grow as more and more people join in.
Wondering if there is a compost pickup service offered in your area?
These two directories below are a great place to start!
CompostNow’s online map and directory This growing directory of compost pickup services includes an interactive searchable map and lists by state and province. (U.S. and Canada)
Litterless.com Where to Compost directory This state-by-state directory includes both compost drop-off and collection options. (U.S. only)
If you haven’t already seen The Compost Story and would like to learn more about the many benefits of composting, you can watch this super-informative, less-than-7-minute video by Kiss the Ground here:
Link to Video https://youtu.be/bqDQD8cvO5Y
(Embed code)
<iframe width=”1214″ height=”683″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/bqDQD8cvO5Y” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
Add meta and pic!!
Ideas:
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/reducing-and-reusing-basics
Even though recycling is undoubtedly a great way to help care for our planet, reducing how much we use in the first place is the first step in a sustainable living journey. But after we’ve reduced, reused, repaired, and “rehomed” as much as we can, recycling can play a critical part in a low-waste lifestyle.
First, reduce– list Rs?
REPHRASE: Just that simple act of putting a can or bottle into a recycling bin – or taking the time to recycle anything that isn’t needed anymore rather than throw it away – we are making that very important choice to send those materials off on a pathway where they can hopefully be reused again.
Whenever we throw things away in the garbage, they get carried off to be buried or burned… and all of the resources that were used to make them become lost forever.
List benefits of recycling
Add pic and meta!! change number in title?
According to 5 Gyres, https://www.5gyres.org/plastic-pollution-facts
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/plastic-pollution?loggedin=true
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/plastic-pollution
https://www.consumerreports.org/environment-sustainability/the-big-problem-with-plastic/
1. Made with fossil fuels
2. Numbers on plastic tell you what type of plastic– just because it has that little triangle on it that reminds us of the familiar recycling symbol, it doesn’t mean it can be recycled!
3. hard to recycle – stats on recycling
4. Downcycled
5. Most common litter material in the ocean
6. Breaks down into microplastics
7. Found in our food
Explore and Learn More:
In-depth collaborative reports:
Plastic & Climate: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet
Plastic & Health: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet
***Add pic, meta, add tags?? Keyphrase
List major ways:
-Reduce waste
-Conserve resources
-Protect and restore nature
Recycling is one of those basic everyday things we can all do to help our planet. By taking the time to recycle, we can protect the resources that were used to make products so they can be turned into new useful things… instead of going to waste. Aside from helping to protect Earth’s resources, recycling also helps to save energy and reduce pollution. And of course, it’s also a great way to cut back on how much we throw away and send to landfills!
The guide below can help you to cut back on waste and reduce your environmental footprint – in more ways than one!
Even though it’s far better than sending things to the landfill, recycling still uses energy and has an environmental impact. So the less “stuff” we use and the less we even have to recycle, the better for our planet. Consider repairing, reusing, and repurposing things you already have instead of buying new things right away. Borrowing or renting can also be a great option when you only need something for a short time. As an added bonus, taking steps to reduce what you buy can help to save money, too!
Single-use items like straws, plastic utensils, and disposable cups are not recyclable in most areas, so they just end up buried in landfills or littering the environment. The best solution to this is simply to avoid them whenever you can by carrying reusable items that can be washed and used again and again.
Earth-friendly essentials like cloth shopping bags, reusable coffee mugs, water bottles, and even utensils allow you to easily dodge wasteful single-use items you might encounter while on the go. (Even though plastic bags can be dropped off for recycling in many areas, the fewer bags we can use to start with, the better for our planet.)
Product packaging is another big source of waste – especially plastic. Try to look for ways to buy things that reduce overall waste. This can include buying larger packages instead of smaller convenience packs or buying things in concentrate in smaller, less wasteful containers instead of buying them pre-mixed with water. (Soup broth is a great example!) Depending on local options, you may also be able to find places where you can buy unpackaged foods and household products using your own bags and containers.
The more you know about how recycling works, the more effective a recycler you can be! A few important facts are highlighted below, but for more recycling facts, see the additional resources at the end of this post.
Some materials keep their quality during the recycling process and are able to be recycled over and over again – forever! Others lose quality each time they are recycled and can only be used to make new materials a certain number of times.
Recycling guidelines and procedures can vary from town to town and even company to company. For example, glass jars and bottles might be accepted for recycling through curbside services in one area, while in other areas, they can’t be recycled this way. In these cases, glass might still be recyclable through local drop-off stations, if there’s one nearby.
There are 7 different categories of plastic, each represented by small numbers within triangular arrow symbols that are often printed on plastic items. #1 and #2 plastics are the easiest to recycle and are most widely accepted through curbside recycling programs. But even some #1 and 2 plastics – such as clamshell containers that often hold fresh berries and desserts – can’t be recycled the same way as plastic bottles because they are made differently and are considered lower quality. These and many other harder-to-recycle plastics often end up in landfills or incinerators – even if they start out in a recycling bin.
Learn more about the challenges with plastic recycling in the short video below:
Not all collection companies accept the same things, so it’s important to know exactly what your local company (if you have one) does and doesn’t actually recycle. Many items are sent off in household blue bins with good intentions, but unfortunately, if a system isn’t set up to recycle them, they’ll probably just end up in the landfill. Check your recycling company’s website, or give them a call if you need more specifics – especially about plastics.
Once you know what you can confidently put in your blue bin, you can look for new ways to become more effective at recycling and reducing overall household waste. This might include choosing products packaged in materials you know can be easily recycled or trying to avoid products that are likely to end up in a landfill when you’re done with them.
When it comes to clothes, sports equipment, toys, furniture, and other things you don’t need or want anymore but are still in good shape, try and find a new home for them! Donating, reselling, or just giving things away to friends or family helps to give items a second life… instead of sending them straight to the landfill.
Taking advantage of drop-off and mail-in recycling programs can definitely help to take your recycling routine to the next level. Many areas have municipal or county recycling stations where residents can drop off a wide variety of items like used batteries, scrap metal, and old paint. If you’re not already a regular visitor to a local recycling station, find out if there’s one nearby and what items they will accept.
There are also all kinds of other drop-off and mail-in recycling programs that can help keep a wide range of things – from old t-shirts to used tennis balls, and even worn-down running shoes – in the loop instead of ending up in the waste stream. Check out this post to learn more: ***Link beyond the blue bin post!!!*****
There’s another category of waste that often piles up in kitchen garbage bins… food scraps! And while banana peels and apple cores can’t be recycled the same way as paper and glass, there is a way to recycle them. Many types of food scraps, along with other items made from plant-based materials, can be separated and allowed to break down naturally so their nutrients can be recycled back into the environment and used again. This can be done through composting! Many places around the world already have large-scale compost collection programs in place, including over 300 cities and towns across the U.S. and the entire state of Vermont.
Composting not only helps to recycle valuable nutrients back into the soil and reduce the amount of waste heading to landfills… it’s also a great way to shrink your carbon footprint. This is because food scraps and other organics that end up in landfills without exposure to oxygen give off methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
While many people choose to compost right at home, in some areas, there are curbside compost services that can collect organic waste from homes, businesses, and other locations on a regular schedule. (Large-scale composting operations can often accept a wider range of items compared to what is recommended for home compost bins.) ShareWaste is another great resource for finding local drop-off points for compostables.
To learn more about composting, check out the other posts here on Going Greener Today **Add link to page??****
Some cities have well-established recycling and composting systems in place and have been able to significantly reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. In these places, recycling bins and green “organics” bins are often found right alongside garbage bins in parks, airports, shopping malls, and even beaches. These ultra-green towns and cities are a true inspiration. But unfortunately, many areas are far behind when it comes to planet-friendly waste management systems.
Unless you live in an area that has public recycling and composting systems in place, chances are that you may be faced with this situation often: You’re at work or on the go, and have an empty glass bottle or aluminum can… but there’s no recycling bin in sight. Does this mean it has to automatically end up in a garbage bin? Not necessarily! Oftentimes, it may just be easy enough just to carry it along with you until you can send it on a more Earth-friendly path… even if this means taking it home with you.
If you compost at home or have a compost collection service, bringing your on-the-go compostables home (when you can) is another super-eco-friendly move. This can even include compostable cardboard bowls and plates that many casual restaurants now use as serveware. (If you aren’t sure if something is compostable, just be sure to confirm first since some cardboard serveware still contains a thin plastic coating.)
Choosing products made with recycled content over those made with newly extracted resources – when you have the option – is another great way to support recycling.
Today, products made with recycled materials come in many forms, including clothes, shoes, office supplies, and accessories. Just the simple Earth-friendly act of choosing recycled paper products – including bathroom tissue – helps to reduce impacts on far-away forests.
There are many ways to help conserve resources and do our part to keep materials in the loop instead of letting them go to waste. And yes, sometimes, these Earth-conscious actions can take a little bit of extra time and effort. But the reality is, we just can’t continue down the current path of taking and taking from our planet and then burying or burning things we don’t need anymore as an easy solution to get rid of them. We need to take time to appreciate all of the natural resources we use and depend on each and every day and do what we can to protect them.
After all, it’s really about learning to live more sustainably together here on this amazing Earth… our one and only home!
Related Posts:
Link: Recycling, compost, circular posts
Explore and Learn More:
Recycling Facts | Recycle Across America
Recycling Basics | US EPA
Composting in America (2019 Report) | U.S. PIRG
Recycling and the circular economy: what’s the difference? | Ellen MacArthur Foundation
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Include link to this dashboard and add a description– trends in the U.S.
https://frontiergroup.org/resources/renewables-on-the-rise-dashboard/
Find good neutral videos to add
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/renewable-energy-clean-facts
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
Renewable Energy: The Clean Facts | Natural Resources Defense Council
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We are drawn to nature– health benefits of spending time in nature- mention shinrin roku– trees make us happy!
But let’s face it. Most of us spend the majority of our days indoors, whether it be out at the office or at home. It turns out, there are ways to bring hints of nature in that can bring us feelings of peace and appreciation. — **Research!! It’s become a trend as more cities are getting greener on the outside… interiors are too.**Look up trends
List decorating idea from article below and research more!!
https://www.nrdc.org/experts/maria-mccain/bringing-outdoors-benefits-biophilia
-Indoor plants
-Natural paint tones
-Natural light
-Nature photography or artwork
-Natural, sustainable materials
Add pic, meta– rename/combine with regenerative agriculture post? or just link? Alt title: Saving Earth’s soils:
Facts about soil loss
Quote facts and figures, Causes of soil loss
Why we need to save our soils
Food
Flood control
Erosion?
Storing carbon/climate regulation
Review Chapter in The Nature of Nature
How we can participate:
Compost
Support healthy soil in yards and gardens- avoid pesticides and tilling
Buy organic produce
Shift towards a plant-based diet
Support local and regenerative farmers
Related Posts:
WATCH: The Soil Story by Kiss the Ground
Explore and Learn More:
Watch Kiss the Ground to learn more about regenerative agriculture — insert video trailer?
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**Add pic and meta*** Combine into other post??
https://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/green-science/the_dangers_of_pesticides/
–
In the News:
Check out this article on Ecowatch from March 30, 2021: 64% of World’s Farmland at Risk from Pesticide Pollution, Study Finds
Rachel Carson- link?
Explore and Learn More:
Lawns and Landscapes | Beyond Pesticides
Pesticide Action Network Find out about what this organization is doing to raise awareness about pesticides.
PesticideInfo.org Use this searchable database to learn more about specific pesticides.
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Single-use plastics
Waste– lands=fills, incinerators, not recycling and composting enough
resources
Wiping out nature
Toxic chemicals, pesticides
Litter
**Add pic and meta**
Edit***When you first get started on the path to a more waste-conscious lifestyle,***** you might find that you begin to see some things that you used to just throw away without much thought in a whole new light. Like a twist tie from your veggies or bread bag. A padded mailer from something you ordered online. An old T-shirt that can’t be re-worn.
“Reusing” is one of the main “R”s we often hear about on the subject of sustainability. When we reuse things, we can save them from ending up in the garbage and going to waste! But taking the time to find ways to reuse things actually goes way beyond helping us cut back on how much trash we create. When we find a way to reuse something for another purpose, it often means not having to go out and buy something new that would have done the same thing. So just by getting into this Earth-friendly mindset, we can help to protect resources, reduce pollution, and can save us money at the same time!
There are endless ideas already out there, and many more to come up with… Here are a few of the most popular and common ones to get you started!
-Twist ties from packaging
-Rubber bands
-Bread clips
-Padded mailers – storing delicate ornaments, keepsakes, passed around to use for packing in moving
-Decorative ties and ribbons from products
-Lint – Stuffing for a toy, pillow, costumes, soft holiday ornaments & other home-made decorations, scarecrow
-Old/worn-out cotton T-shirts
-Plastic pots from store-bought plants – Type of plastic may not be recyclable in many areas – Here are a few ideas: insulating outdoor plants from frost – liner for pots that don’t have drainage – fillers for bigger pots to save soil (upside down)
-Disposable containers from food on-the go– bug catcher?
**Add pic, meta, more tags?– alt title: A close look at waste trends in the U.S.
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-01/documents/2018_ff_fact_sheet_dec_2020_fnl_508.pdf
**Add pic, meta
–Include CSA, define– include LocalHarvest link to find nearby options
**Add pic, meta**
Story of Stuff– brief intro to videos
**Add pic and meta** **Change number? Search benefits and add points
-Pollinators
-Homes for wildlife
-Mulch for garden beds
-Compost
-Feed the trees
-If you must clean up your leaves, be sure they are going to a place where they can break down naturally…not to a landfill. When leaves, yard trimmings, and food scraps end up buried in landfills, they don’t get enough oxygen and produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Don’t Send Fallen Leaves to the Landfill [What To Do Instead]
https://xerces.org/blog/leave-leaves-to-benefit-wildlife
https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2015/OctNov/Gardening/Leave-the-Leaves
Related Posts:
**Make yard even greener**
Explore and Learn More:
Leave the Leaves to Benefit Wildlife | Xerces Society
Why You Should Leave the Leaves | National Wildlife Federation
Composting has become widely recognized in recent years as an Earth-friendly way to recycle organic waste and reduce planet-warming methane emissions from landfills. Many people living in cities and suburban areas now have access to curbside collection services or local places where they can drop off their food scraps for composting. These types of composting options are especially important in areas where people don’t have the space to compost at home.
But for many people around the U.S. today, composting at home is still the only way to recycle food scraps and other organic waste materials so they can end up back in the soil… instead of in a landfill.
And even when there is an option to send food scraps off to be composted elsewhere, many people still choose to compost at home for a variety of reasons… whether it be simply to save money or to be able to watch this fascinating process happen first-hand!
While home composting is usually a fairly simple process, there can be a lot to learn when you’re first getting started. One question that tends to come up often is this:
Most fruit and vegetable scraps can break down easily using any type of composting method. But there are actually all kinds of other things (including many non-food items) that are often thrown away and could be composted instead. And with home compostable products and packaging materials on the rise these days, the list of what can go into a home compost bin just continues to grow!
In order for organic materials to break down efficiently in a compost bin, it needs to contain both green and brown materials.
Fruit and vegetable scraps & peels – This includes raw, cooked, and moldy fruits and veggies, too! *For faster breakdown, larger items (like broccoli stems or citrus peels) should be cut into smaller sections.
Loose coffee grounds – Plastic coffee pods should not go in a home compost bin… but the used grounds from inside are always welcome! *Even pods made with compostable “bio-based” plastics are typically only approved for industrial composting facilities, which are not common in most areas.
Stale chips, crackers, & bread
Cooked rice and pasta
Tea bags – *Not all teabags are compostable – check on the box or manufacturer’s website. Staples and plastic teabags can’t be composted, but the tea leaves inside can always be! (And the little paper pouches they come in are often compostable too – but paper counts as brown material.)
Hair and pet fur
Nail clippings
Green houseplants leaves and clippings
Flowers – *If dried, they count as a brown material
Fresh cut grass – *In limited amounts, if needed. Too much grass can throw off the balance of a compost bin if it also contains a lot of fruit and vegetable scraps and not enough brown materials.
Yes! Eggshells don’t really fall under the green or brown category, but they are still a great addition to the compost bin! They are rich in calcium and other essential nutrients, making them great for soil and plant growth. *Rinse and crush before composting.
The list below is by no means a complete list. All kinds of dry, plant-based materials (cotton, cardboard, etc.) can typically go in a home compost bin. When it doubt, look it up!
Dry leaves
Dried flowers and leaves from houseplants
Cardboard boxes* & tubes – Torn into small pieces. Composting is especially a great option for greasy, wet, or food-soiled cardboard that can’t be recycled – including greasy pizza boxes! *Coated cardboard (i.e. frozen food boxes) or cardboard with a glossy/shiny coating should NOT go in the compost bin.
Shredded newspaper & office paper – *Aside from glossy or shiny coated paper (i.e. magazines), any small pieces of paper are fine for composting!
Used paper towels & napkins – *If they contain food or drink residue, they are ok to compost… but grease, chemicals, and other toxic substances are a no-no for the compost bin.
Brown packaging paper & brown paper bags – Torn into pieces *If possible, reuse them first!
White tissue paper – *Tissue paper with glitter or shiny/metallic finishes shouldn’t be composted. (And if it’s still in good shape, the most eco-friendly move is to save it and reuse it for wrapping!)
Nutshells
Corn cobs
Paper coffee filters
Toothpicks, bamboo skewers, & popsicle sticks
Paper cupcake and muffin liners
Home compostable parchment paper – Torn into pieces
Paper flour and sugar bags – Torn into pieces
Natural wine corks (not plastic corks) – Broken into pieces *Corks can be upcycled and used to make corkboards, crafts, and holiday decor. Small pieces of natural cork can make a great mulch for container plants, too!
Home-compostable paper plates and bowls – *Be sure to confirm they are home-compostable and don’t contain chemical coatings
Worn-out sponges, cloths, and loofahs made from 100% natural plant fibers – Cut into small pieces *Plastic-based (often colorful) sponges and cloths cannot be composted.
Tissues – *If they were used to wipe saliva, tears, or food/drink, they are in the clear for home composting. As for tissues containing heavy mucous/bacteria, some compost guides recommend throwing them away in the garbage.
100% cotton balls, swabs & rounds
Bamboo toothbrush handles – *These will break down in a home compost bin, but can take many months… So if preferred, burying them in the garden works great, too!
100% plant-based, compostable dental floss – *Most major brands of floss are made from synthetic materials and can’t be composted.
Compostable natural bamboo bandages – PATCH brand is best known for this… even the wrappers and packaging are 100% home compostable!
Natural wood or paper-based bedding from small pets such as hamsters and guinea pigs
Hay & Straw
Natural wood shavings & sawdust – From untreated wood only
Some composting guides will recommend a 1:1 ratio of browns to greens, while others suggest closer to 3-4 parts brown per 1 part green material. This might sound complicated, but there is no worry about being too precise about ratios. The main key to remember is to include a mix of both greens and browns! Over time, you will learn to recognize if your compost appears balanced or it needs some tweaking – usually just by adding more brown material.
All materials from living things can break down naturally under the right conditions. But with that said, certain things shouldn’t go in a standard home compost bin. These particular items can take longer to break down, cause unwanted odors, and also attract animals.
Here are a few items that should not go in a standard home compost bin:
Dairy items
Meat, fish, and poultry
Bones
Whole eggs
Grease & Oils
Any plant material that has been treated with chemical pesticides
Pet waste
With that said, many large-scale curbside compost collection programs are equipped to handle a wider range of organic waste items and will often accept dairy, bones, and meat products. Pet waste, on the other hand, is considered a biohazard due to the risk of bacterial contamination and is typically NOT accepted through curbside services. *For a pet waste solution, check out The Green Cone!
Related Posts:
**3-4 composting posts!!
Explore and Learn More:
Composting in America
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There are many actions we can take in our routines that help to shrink our carbon footprint. But as it turns out, one choice we make – usually several times a day – can make one of the biggest differences. (change end of sentence?? )
And it has to do with what we are eating! Scientists have been taking a closer look at the carbon footprints of different foods, and the results are pretty eye-opening!
This tool helps us to gain a better understanding of the environmental impacts of the foods we eat– explore it here!
Quiz- https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46459714
Other quizzes?
Related posts:
Calculator post
Carbon Foodprint post
Planet-Based Diet post
Food waste post
Explore and Learn More:
Planet-Based Diets
4 Foods That Are Eating the World’s Forests And How to Choose Better
https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/why-go-vegan/environment
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/03/1086822
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200211-why-the-vegan-diet-is-not-always-green
LINK to food calculator!!
Watch the trailer here: include trailer here – add link – or watch full film on YouTube
Explore and Learn More:
Eat less meat: UN climate-change report calls for change in human diet | Nature
Planet-Based Diets | WWF
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–Fast fashion
-Home remodelling- Sure, it may sound nice to have an all-new kitchen with the latest colored countertops… but is it really worth it? Not only do trendy home renovations tend to cost a lot, they also tend to create lots and lots of waste!
-Certain technologies
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-Reduce plastic
-Sanitary
-Can compost handle (and bristles if compostable)
What to do with a bamboo brush when it retires as your toothbrush? Follow these steps:
1) Try to repurpose it as a cleaning brush
2) If it can’t be repurposed as-is, remove bristles (unless they are compostable) and try to repurpose the handle – they make great garden markers or extra-sturdy substitutes for popsicle sticks!
3) If it can’t be used at all, the handle can be added to the compost bin or simply buried vertically in the soil… eventually, it will break down and become part of the soil again!
Are you interested in composting, but not sure where or how to get started? Depending on where you live, you might have access to a curbside compost service that can collect your food scraps and other organics… and compost them for you!
Over recent years, compost pickup services have been popping up and expanding in many locations. While many of these companies are centered in and around major cities, some offer services in suburbs and more rural areas, too.
Here’s how they work, in a nutshell:
CompostNow is one such company that began in the Raleigh area back in 2011. Learn more about their story here:
Garbage to Garden is another curbside composting service in Portland, Maine. Their feature video below does a job of explaining how curbside composting works:
Check out these helpful directories:
CompostNow’s online map and directory – This growing directory of compost pickup services includes an interactive searchable map and lists by state and province. (U.S. and Canada)
Litterless.com Where to Compost directory – This state-by-state directory includes both compost drop-off and collection options. (U.S. only)
Depending on where you live, there may be another option for recycling your food scraps and other organic waste items. Thanks to the ShareWaste app, people can quickly search for nearby compost drop-off locations that can include homes, community gardens, and farms. The number of drop-off locations continues to grow, and “hosts” can be found all over the world! You can find their searchable map here.
If you still don’t have any luck with these directories above, a quick online search for composting pick-up or drop-off in your area might bring up some more options!
Related Posts:
***List composting posts***
Explore and Learn More:
List some resources and link to digging deeper page
Composting was once thought of as mainly a gardener’s hobby. But times have changed!
Today, we understand – very clearly – the importance of keeping organics out of the waste stream and the essential role that composting can play in living more sustainably. Not only can this practice of recycling organic waste help to build healthy soil and reduce the amount of waste heading to landfills and incinerators… It is also an effective way to help curb climate change!
The Compost Story by Kiss the Ground does an amazing job of explaining why we all need to care about composting. Watch this amazing short video below:
Check out the posts and additional resources below:
Related Posts:
—Many ways to start composting
-Basics of getting started
–The may be a pick up service near you
–Food waste
Explore and Learn more:
How composting can reduce our impact on the planet | UN Environment Programme
Why is Composting Good for the Environment? | SciToons (Video, <2 min)
Composting in America | U.S. PIRG (Report)
Benefits of Compost | U.S. Composting Council
Composting 101 | Natural Resources Defense Council
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When it comes to recycling food scraps and other organics through composting, there are many different ways to take part.
Some people choose to compost right in their own backyards. Others might have their organic waste collected by a compost pickup service if they have one available in their area. And in yet other places, composting operations are run by community members who work together to transform locally-generated food scraps into “black gold” for nearby farms and gardens.
The composting operation at Red Hook Community Farm in Brooklyn, NY, is the largest in the U.S. to run completely on renewable energy and volunteer labor. Working together, over 2000 volunteers help to transform over 150 tons of food scraps into nutrient-rich compost each year without the use of any fossil-fuel-burning machinery.
Learn more about this amazing operation in this inspiring video by Local Motives:
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
***Link to different posts focusing on each
In a nutshell, composting is the process of separating organic materials and managing them under ideal conditions to speed up the natural decomposition process… instead of sending them off with the garbage truck. The end result of composting is a dark, crumbly, nutrient-rich mixture known as compost, which can be used as a natural fertilizer in gardens and flower beds. It’s essentially a form of recycling… nature’s way!
It’s a common misbelief that food items and other waste materials from the living world break down in a landfill environment. Landfill excavation studies have —- site link. absence of oxygen — nutrients lost from cycles
Composting has so many important environmental benefits!
This amazing short video by Kiss the Ground does an amazing job of making the case for composting!
If you’re new to composting, there’s good news: You have options! Whether you sign up for a compost pickup service (if available in your area), bring your food scraps to a local community composting site, or decide to start composting right in your yard. As for home composting, there are many different methods to choose from. This includes pre-made bins, tumblers, underground in-garden composting systems, and even DIY methods such as simply burying your organics in the ground.
The truth is, anything that was once part of a living thing can decompose naturally, given the right conditions. (Hint: This does not happen in landfills!) With that said, certain organic materials such as meat, dairy, and grease shouldn’t go in traditional home compost bins due to potential odors and the higher possibility of attracting animals. Larger composting operations and compost pickup services, however, can often accept these animal-based waste items.
A healthy compost pile or bin needs a combination of nitrogen-rich, wet “green” materials as well as carbon-rich, dry “brown” materials in order to break down efficiently. Green materials include fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and green plant clippings. Common brown materials include dry leaves, cardboard, and paper towels.
How fast things break down can depend on many different factors, including the method of composting, geographical location, time of year, and the size and type of items you are composting. Even the location of the compost bin or heap in a yard (i.e. shady vs. sunny) can affect how quickly things break down! But under ideal home composting conditions, things such as carrot peels and banana peels can generally break down within a few weeks, while avocado pits can take up to 6 months.
Aside from making trips to your composting site to drop off your compostables, compost needs aerating (or turning) on a regular basis, as needed. This might be every week (or a little more or less) depending on factors like the time of year, if the compost is too wet, unbalanced, etc. Even though nature does all of the main work to break everything down, composting can be a great way to add some fresh air and a little exercise to your routine!
Despite what many may think, well-balanced and well-mixed compost should not give off any bad odors. In the event that any less-than-pleasant smells arise, there’s usually a simple solution: This involves adding more brown material (if needed) and mixing the compost well to increase airflow. Often, doing this makes any odors disappear right away!
Dairy products, meat, fish, and poultry can quickly lead to bad odors in a standard compost bin… which is why these are on the “avoid” list when it comes to home composting. (They are, however, usually compostable through larger-scale composting operations.) Solar digesters like The Green Cone can be a good option for those who want to recycle more animal-based products at home.
There’s a reason why compost is often called “black gold” in the composting and gardening world! It’s filled with beneficial nutrients for plants and also helps to improve soil structure and moisture retention. Many gardeners use compost as a natural fertilizer in their vegetable gardens and flower beds. But the fact is, compost can pretty much go anywhere where soil, trees, or other plants exist. The main goal, after all, is to return organic materials back to Earth’s natural cycles, where they belong!
Would you like to learn more about how the composting process works, or about some of the different ways to compost? Check out the posts and resource links below, or explore some of the many composting how-to videos and other helpful resources online. With so much great information available right at your fingertips, all the answers you might need are out there!
Related Posts:
**All composting posts
Explore and Learn More:
Composting 101 | Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Composting in America (2019 Report) | U.S. PIRG
How to compost – and why it’s good for the environment | National Geographic
**Add meta, more tags??
**Add pic and meta**waste-conscious mindset
It’s easy to forget about the stuff we throw away once it disappears into the garbage bin. It gets carried off week after week by the garbage truck, and we don’t have to worry about it… right?
Turns out, we do need to worry. Why? Because our Earth only has so much to give.
Before modern human practices led to the use of landfills and incinerators to manage waste, organic matter cycled naturally in the environment, and nothing went to waste.
We drill oil —
**Add pics
We mine rocks and minerals
We cut down forests to make wood products and toilet paper (link)
We’ve taken a lot of resources from the Earth already, and every day we take more. More and more, faster and faster.
Many of the resources that are used to make things are non-renewable. In other words, they cannot be replaced naturally as fast as we use them, and eventually, they can run out.
It’s pretty simple: Every time we throw things away in the garbage, the resources that were used to make them go to waste. Rather than being reused or remade into new useful items or e more we throw away, the more resources are going to waste.
**Add pic and meta** Change number in title?? Started another post in computer??
Growing trendMore and more companies are —– Here are some of their common Earth-friendly features to look out for:
-Materials source?
-Environmental impact of ingredients?
-Impacts of manufacturing
-Transparency
-Certifications- Rainforest alliance, 1% for planet, Carbon neutral, more??
-Carbon footprint– offset?
-Durability
-Packaging
-end-of life – circular economy
-Shipping materials
**Change title?? ** **Add pic and meta** Make more of a case study? or Spotlight?
https://www.priceofbath.com/phoenix-recycled/phoenix-recycled-tennis-ball/phoenix-recycled-tennis-ball-from-price-of-bath.html-Packaging
-Durability
-Circularity
https://www.wilson.com/en-us/explore/tennis/triniti
Tennis ball example:
Recycleballs.org
Tennis Ball Recycling Powered by APT’s Laykold, Ace Surfaces and reBounces
As the need to preserve Earth’ s resources and reduce waste becomes more urgent, companies are getting creative with how to go circular.
Plaine Products– link to Earth Hero
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-Definition, new movement, why so important, goals
The rewilding movement: How we can get involved
Put simply, rewilding is —- definition
**CHANGE WORDING 1st sentence **On March 20, 2021, the first-ever World Rewilding Day was officially recognized. A few months later on World Environment Day, June 5, 2021, the U.N. declared the official launch of the (link) Decade on Restoration.
For reference: https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/stories/1st-world-rewilding-day-20th-march-2021-sun-equinox-0
The message is getting clearer and clearer: We have to work together to bring nature back!
Why? We depend on the natural world for so many things… INSERT VIDEO?
List reasons to rewild:
Stats on how much forest area has been lost -global and U.S.
Scotland is one country that’s leading the way when it comes to rewilding efforts. – first could be first rewilded nation
Get more detail here– already linked above:
https://www.euronews.com/green/2021/04/26/scotland-could-become-the-world-s-first-rewilding-nation-how-did-they-get-here
Related Posts:
Unlawn movement
—-tips on rewilding yard– title?
Making your yard a little “greener” – check title of post
Would you like less lawn to maintain and more nature?
CHANGE When we stop to think about the fact that If we stop to think about all of the natural land cover that has been gradually replaced with houses, buildings, roads, parking lots, wherever there is now a house, driveway, or flat, uniform lawn… at one point in the past, these areas were in a natural state.
In many areas, the development continues. Patches of trees continue to be torn down to make way for new neighborhoods, parking lots, and road widening projects.
When we think of restoring biodiversity, we might think mainly about protecting large areas of natural land. But even privately-owned land – right down to all of the yards surrounding peoples’ houses – can play an important role in rewilding!
Just think… what if more and more people started to give even small parts of their yard back to nature? There would be more trees, more food sources for wildlife, more nesting places for birds… These kinds of things bring a sense of connection to nature.
*REMOVE/CHANGE??* But so much land that people and businesses own gets regularly watered, mowed, and sprayed with chemicals… What if more people started to restore some of their
Get tips to add:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/apr/09/how-to-rewild-lawn-garden — for reference and possible link! Good facts
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/meet-ecologist-who-wants-unleash-wild-backyard-180974372/
https://www.vnews.com/Column-Rewilding-the-yard-25384497
https://www.gardeningetc.com/us/advice/rewilding-your-garden
Try to pre
First things first, wherever we can protect individual trees and other natural areas – even if they are small pockets – can help.
-Planting native trees
-Participate in the natural lawn movement – No Mow May – and let it grow… tree seedlings will often pop up on their own where land is left undisturbed, especially here are other trees in the same area. Just in the same way that new trees will grow in a forest in a new opening where a tree has fallen, or how trees can eventually fill in when vacant lots have been left to grow naturally.
So here’s the bottom line: Whether we have a large area of land to work with or we just want to bring some nature back to a small corner of our yard. Every little step we can each take in restoring nature can add up to make huge strides in safeguarding our planet.
Learning about and getting involved in local conservation projects
Supporting conservation organizations that are working to protect biodiversity
Help raise awareness on World Rewilding Day and throughout the year.
Related Posts:
Making your yard a little “greener” – check title of post
Explore and Learn More:
Wild Challenge: Let It Grow | The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
As more of us join hands and make changes, the bigger difference we can make!
Explore and Learn More:
Protected planet report
Campaign for Nature
30 x 30 Nature
Global Rewilding Day
Re:Wild website– include link?
Reforesting the U.S.: Here’s Where We Can Put All Those Trees | The Nature Conservancy, February 9, 2021
Scotland could become first “rewilded” nation – What does that mean? | National Geographic
**Add pic and meta** Chamge title– later post?? Mention book — add clip of American experience documentary
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**Add pic and meta** Later post
Aldo Leopold
Rachel Carson
E.O. Wilson
Jane Goodall
Sir David Attenborough
**Add pic, meta
-Bar dog shampoo
-Natural cat litter
-Hamster/rabbit/guinea pig shavings
-Toys made from recycled plastic
-Pet food with recyclable bags
-Compostable dog waste bags
**Search more?
When it comes to “that” time of the month for women, consider these eye-opening numbers:
Today, plastic waste is finding its way into our Earth’s oceans at alarming rates, and discarded plastic feminine hygiene products have become a part of this serious pollution problem. Instead of colorful shells, tampon applicators and disposable pads are now being found washed up on beaches all around the world. It’s not a good situation, to say the least.
As awareness about our planet’s plastic crisis continues to grow, there has been a big movement in recent years for the need to avoid single-use, plastic-based products in all aspects of daily life and adopt more sustainable ways of living. Not only do these wasteful “use-and-toss” products pollute our planet and contribute to our growing mountains of trash; they also use huge amounts of energy and natural resources to constantly produce and contribute to the looming challenges we face surrounding climate change.
On the subject of feminine hygiene products, there is actually a whole lineup of plastic-free, eco-friendly alternatives available to women today that can completely replace the disposable versions that typically fill shelf after shelf in the average grocery store. These reusable, more sustainable products can help women to significantly cut back on their personal waste stream… and they can end up saving them a lot of money in the long run, too. It just makes sense. Period.
Want to learn more about eco-friendly period options? Check out the resources below:
Plastic Pollution Coalition: Your Guide to an Environmentally Friendly Period
The Zero Waste Collective: How to Have a Zero Waste and Plastic Free Period
Greatist.com: 11 Sustainable Products to Help You Have an Eco-Friendly Period
Good Housekeeping UK: How to have an eco-friendly period
Related Post: Plastic Pollution: Why we all need to act now
Explore and Learn More:
Making Menstruation Products Eco Friendly | Plastic Oceans
Campaigning for plastic-free periods | Marine Conservation Society
National Geographic: How tampons and pads became so unsustainable
UN Environment: Meet the Samoan businesswoman who’s making sanitary products more sustainable
In the News:
Tampons are out among younger women. Why feminine hygiene is newest consumer battlefield | USA Today – March 27, 2017
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Add Nike– other– plastic recycling videos
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Bars! There are shampoo bars, conditioner bars, body wash bars, and shaving bars. There are face wash bars, scrub bars, solid moisturizer bars, and even deodorant bars.
For reference:
https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/environment/2018/08/5-reasons-ditch-your-shampoo-bottle-shampoo-bar
There are so many different brands of shampoo and conditioner bars out there to choose from these days, and while they can vary in their ingredient lists, they all have the same Earth-friendly feature in common: No plastic bottle necessary!
Besides their compact, plastic-free packaging, there are so many other great benefits to bars! Since they don’t contain any water, they are smaller and lighter to ship than heavy liquid-filled plastic bottles, which means their carbon footprint is also smaller. And because they are super concentrated, they can last a surprisingly long time for their small size. This also makes them easy to travel with.
CUT AND PASTED– use here or move? ***Made for all different hair types and needs, these small bars are quite economical compared to many store-bought shampoos and can last a while when stored properly. Not to mention, many bar products have a much shorter and more natural ingredient list compared to their bottled counterparts. Choosing more compact and lightweight packaging helps to save resources and reduce pollution from transportation.***
They often contain more natural ingredients
Plastic-free
Buying just the product, no water
Lighter to ship – reduced emissions from transportation
Easier to travel with- liquid free
Many are cruelty-free, palm-oil free, and vegan
Many bars contain simpler, and more natural ingredients compared with many traditional bottled hair care products out there. This makes them safer for both us and our environment.
With most bars being under $15-20, they are more economical compared to many bottled shampoos and conditioners.
***Available for dog shampoo too!
Related Posts:
Bathroom
Hand soap?
Cleaners
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**Nike grind- video
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Explain Nature Compact — 30% by 2030
https://environmentamerica.org/feature/ame/more-nature
https://www.nrdc.org/experts/alison-chase/marine-protected-areas-are-key-our-future
https://www.nrdc.org/resources/30×30-nrdcs-commitment-protect-nature-and-life-earth
Restoring natural spaces and biodiversity is one of the biggest global tasks we face today. Watch this eye-opening and inspiring video by WWF
Related Posts:
Rewilding posts
Unlawn movement
No Mow May
Explore and Learn More:
Living Planet Report 2022 | WWF
***Conservation International -?
**The Nature Conservancy- ?
Visualizing the Effectiveness of Conservation Strategies | Conservationeffectiveness.org
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http://www.fao.org/fao-stories/article/en/c/1309609/
https://www.fao.org/3/i7059e/i7059e.pdf
Ideas from EPA page and link below: https://www.epa.gov/recycle/preventing-wasted-food-home
According to the UN – Check FAO
Summarize video instead of having video link– take out video?? Check U.S. stats
Here are some things we can all do to help with our global food waste problem:
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Interested in Zero Waste Cooking? The tips and resources below can help get you started! *Find better sources for info?
http://www.wastelesspantry.com.au/blog/
Did you know that there is an official day dedicated to raising awareness about food waste? Visit the Stop Food Waste Day website to learn more about this important awareness day that is recognized every year on the last Wednesday of April.
Links to zero waste cooking sites???
Want to get more involved?
Talk with local restaurant and grocery store managers about what they do with their food waste– in some places, businesses are partnering up with shelters and other non-profits to help get these unwanted foods to the people who need it most, instead of letting it go to waste!
Related Posts:
We all need to care about food waste: Here’s why!
Explore and Learn More:
Food Waste Causes Climate Change. Here’s How We Stop It | Our Changing Climate (YouTube, 10:41 min)
Documentaries:
Wasted! The Story of Food Waste (Official Trailer)
Just Eat It – A Food Waste Story (Official Trailer)
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Throwaway culture history…
New trends, laws
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Living with less. Creating less waste. Keeping the Earth (and our personal impact on it) in mind throughout the day.
Let’s start with some swaps:
-Reusable water bottle… and avoiding single-use “convenience” plastics in general- especially when at home where reusables are readily available
-Bamboo toothbrush
-Swedish dishcloths and other reusable alternatives to using paper towels
-Bidet
Hand soap
-Reusable feminine hygiene products
-Hang laundry to dry (inside or out!)
-MIY cleaning products
***Below cut and pasted from another post– incorporate with above!
Avoid buying single-use kitchen plastics
Natural lawn
Composting- own fertilizer
Grow your own
Make your own natural cleaning products
Buy from concentrate
-Saving energy
-Saving water
-Saving paper
Note: Some plastic-free and other eco-friendly product swaps out there might seem more on the expensive side compared to conventional products. There can be all kinds of different reasons for this, including:
-Designed to last longer than more disposable versions
-Cleaner, more natural ingredients
-More sustainable packaging- refillable, easily recyclable, or compostable. Most of the newer eco-friendly product options out there these days are plastic-free!
-Some are made by smaller businesses, rather than mass-produced
Many of these products are designed to last due to several factors, including higher about some kinds of swaps that
Besides actual product swaps, there are many other examples of things we ways that living more sustainably can help here are some more Earth-friendly actions below can also help people spend less: ***Link to related posts!!!***
-Reducing the amount of “stuff” we buy… and buying “pre-loved” instead of new
-Substituting meat-based meals for plant-based alternatives
-Growing some of our own food
-Taking steps to reduce water and energy use at home
-Natural lawn care
-Avoid buying single-serving food items that are over-packaged for convenience. These often cost more compared to buying in larger portions and create SO much extra waste!
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The less we buy, the less we use, and the less we throw away… the more we reduce our impact on the environment.
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https://frontiergroup.org/blogs/blog/fg/real-problem-toilet-paper-where-it-comes
When it comes to paper products – including bathroom tissue – not all products are created equally. Explore The Issue With Tissue
In 2019, the Natural Resources Defense Council released their eye-opening report, The Issue With Tissue, to help raise awareness about the links between some tissue products and the destruction of old-growth forests.
Add in stats
Check out NRDC’s latest “The Issue with Tissue” 2022 Scorecard to find out how major tissue brands rank when it comes to their impact on Canadian boreal forests.
The NRDC’s newest report, The Issue with Tissue 2021 Scorecard, helps people to compare where various brands stand when it comes to their impact on our planet.
The brands that received an A grade all have one thing in common… instead of being made using virgin materials, they are all made from 100% recycled paper and other sustainable alternatives
**Same goes for other disposable paper products
You can learn more about the report and find their full scorecards for brands of toilet paper, paper towels, and facial tissue at the bottom of this page on the NRDC website:
https://www.nrdc.org/experts/shelley-vinyard/issue-tissue-20
But as it turns out, there is actually another even more sustainable alternative to any type of toilet paper… and that is to use a bidet!
Link to report: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/earth-talks-bidets/
) Simple bidet attachments don’t have to be pricey – several online options can be found in the $50 range.
Explore and Learn More:
The real problem with toilet paper: Where it comes from | Frontier Group
NRDC: The Issue with Tissue 2022 Scorecard | NRDC
Wipe or Wash? Do Bidets Save Water and Forest Resources? | Scientific American
On Hemp, Bidets, & Bamboo: Issue with Tissue FAQs Answered | NRDC
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Caring For The Environment: 8 Reasons to Protect & Sustain Earth
Related Posts:
Calculators
The quick start guide to going greener
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Current stats- land and ocean
Campaign for nature– website for monitoring protected areas
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https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/earth-day-timeline
https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R46293.html
Rachel Carson- Nixon speech in 1970–
Nixon and Earth Day: Looking back 50 years ago at a President who cared about the environment
While the exact message may be changing with time, the pig picture is still the same: We need to take care of our Earth, our one and only home.
**Even a portion of your yard — focus on back yard if needed
Brings nature back – biodiversity and habitats
Pollinators
No need for artificial fertilizers and chemicals
Reduced water use
Grow your own food– food forests
More variety of plants green year-round and absorbing CO2– check!!
***Research other reasons!!**
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272928038_Adding_ecological_value_to_the_urban_lawnscape_Insect_abundance_and_diversity_in_grass-free_lawns
**Add link to this article below: https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-families/family-wild-challenge/activities/let-it-grow/
https://www.turftotrees.org/
https://content.yardmap.org/learn/removing-lawn-to-make-way-for-more-habitat/
https://www.treehugger.com/bee-lawn-leave-certain-weed-flowers-intact-help-pollinators-4863610
**Get ideas/summarize and then delete article below:
Explore and Learn More:
Is the anti-lawn movement taking root? | Scienceline
Stop Mowing Your Lawn | Let it Grow Wild Challenge | The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Further Reading:
Nature’s Last Chance
How to host more eco-friendly celebrations
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-Impact of hand soap– dispensers, pumps,
-Plastic-free, concentrated
-Castile soap – link
-Bar soaps- wrapped in paper
Below is cut and pasted– EDIT!!!
Bar soaps
Of course, natural bar soaps in paper-based packaging are always a great eco-friendly option if you are trying to reduce packaging waste- especially plastic. The small box or paper wrapper that bar soaps come in can be recycled or composted, they are lighter to ship than heavier containers (which reduces their carbon footprint), and when they are all used up, there is no waste. Even if we compare the overall environmental impact of bar soaps vs. liquid soaps starting with their manufacturing all the way down to shipping and packaging, bar soaps still typically come out ahead. So, in large part due to growing care and concern for our environment, the “good old-fashioned” bar soap has been making a big comeback!
Plastic-free liquid hand soap options
In the kitchen, many people prefer a pump-style liquid soap for a faster and easier handwashing option. The thing is, many store-bought liquid hand soaps contain a large amount of water. So when we buy these liquid soaps in large containers, they not only have a larger carbon footprint compared to other options (more on those below)… but we often end up paying for all of that unnecessary packaging too!
Another thing to consider is that while the plastic containers that typical liquid soaps come in can often be recycled, the pump tops on these containers often cannot be! This means that whenever we buy these soaps with that non-recyclable top, we often have no choice but to put them in the trash.
Fortunately, this has become an easy problem to avoid today! We now have many options for more eco-friendly, natural, plastic-free (even zero-waste) options for hand soap. Like dish soaps, these eco-revolutionary hand soaps come in different forms, but many are based on a similar concept: We just buy the concentrated “soap” part, and then add water in our own soap dispensers! These soaps can now be found in dissolvable tablets, biodegradable pods, and natural liquid soap concentrates (such as castile soap), and many of these options come in plastic-free packaging that can be recycled or composted. Thanks to these greener options, there is no need to keep buying soaps in those small single-use plastic containers.
-Paper soap Camping, road trips, on-the-go
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-Impact of mining
-Limited resource– shortages
-Recycled endlessly
–
Aluminum foil is another plastic-free alternative to plastic wrap. In many cases, it can be wiped or washed and reused several times. When pieces get torn or too small to be reused, they can often be recycled! Check with your local curbside recycling service if they take aluminum foil, or use Earth911 to search for other nearby drop-off options. When recycling foil, it’s best to hang on to small pieces and crumple them into a ball, since smaller pieces can get missed or stuck in sorting machines. Once your aluminum ball is a few inches across, (Note: As with all materials, always be sure the foil is clean!)
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Discuss “earthing” walkng barefoot on natural surfaces- sand, grass, soil,
Shinrin-yoku
Another video– watch fully– include??
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https://www.nrdc.org/experts/maria-mccain/bringing-outdoors-benefits-biophilia
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-Avoid single-use convenience packaging
-Reusable water bottles, utensils
-Use containers and reusable food storage bags over single-use bags and wraps
-Bake/make-ahead and freeze- send in a reusable container
-Bring home recyclables and compostables
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“Reduce, reuse, recycle” Many of us have heard this slogan since we were young, in the early days of the environmental movement. While these are no doubt three very important words when it comes to living in a way that minimizes our environmental impact, there is more… a lot more… to it.
THE 8 R’s OF SUSTAINABILITY AND HOW TO APPLY THEM IN YOUR LIFE
List Rs
Rethink
Reduce
Reuse and repurpose whenever possible… **Separate??
Refusing and reducing the amount of packaging — especially plastic– we bring home is always the best way to go when it comes to our environment. But unless we live near stores that offer zero-waste shopping, plastic and other types of packaging can often be unavoidable when buying certain kinds of products. Some things, such as jars and containers can be reused* or repurposed around the home or for other useful purposes. (*Note: Plastic bottles and containers are best reused for non-food purposes, as many single-use plastics are not designed to be safely reused. Plastics can deteriorate over time, especially when exposed to heat or acidic liquids.)
Whenever we can put something we already have to good use over buying something new, it’s always a win for our planet!
Repurpose
Recycle
As for the things that can’t be reused or repurposed, the next best option is recycling! Every time we choose to recycle, we help to keep materials on a pathway to being reused in some way, rather than simply going to waste.
Common basic materials like cardboard, paper, metal cans, and certain types of plastics can be easily recycled through curbside collection bins. But many types of plastic can be a challenge when it comes to recycling
Rot
Reflect
Talk about the 14 Rs of sustainability– search more ideas and resources
***Search online for more Rs/ideas!
https://www.dunedingov.com/live-work-play/dunedin-green-scene/the-7-r-s-refuse-reduce-repurpose-reuse-recycle-rot-rethink
https://www.gaiadiscovery.com/art-fashion-lifestyle/get-real-with-the-10rs-of-true-eco-living.html
https://theveganreview.com/the-6-rs-of-sustainability-what-does-sustainable-really-mean
Only one Earth- UNEP document– look at individual info: https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/40017/WED2022.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y
Explore and Learn More:
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When it comes to the dishwashing section at the average grocery store, the selection of options with more natural, environmentally-friendly ingredients has slowly been growing over the years. But these days, choosing the most eco-friendly products has gone to a whole new level– and that has to do with packaging! Even some of the “cleanest” dishwashing products out there still come in large plastic bottles and containers!
But here’s the great news: While you might have to look beyond your average grocery store shelf to find them, there are lots of plastic-free (even zero-waste!) dishwashing products to choose from today!
Plastic-free dishwasher detergents come in powders, pods, and tablets
As for plastic-free dishwashing detergents, they might not all look the same… but they all have one main thing in common: They don’t come packaged in big, bulky plastic containers. There are tablets and pods with biodegradable wrappers that come in compact cardboard boxes that can be recycled. Or you can find powder detergents in paper bags or compostable pouches that can be added to refillable tins and other containers. And just like that: Plastic container problem, solved!
Dish soaps don’t have to come in a single-use plastic bottle
Solid dish soap blocks have emerged as a popular replacement for traditional dish soaps in squeezable plastic bottles. Just wet your sponge (more on sponges below) rub on the top of your dish block a few times until you get some suds, and you are ready to start washing!
One popular option is this dish soap bar by Meliora, which made with natural, non-toxic ingredients, and comes in a small box that can be recycled or composted. **Note: If you do make the switch to a solid dish soap, you will also need a double layer soap dish that allows water to drain away from the bar for your kitchen counter.
Besides solid dish blocks, dish soaps can also be found in powders and liquids that can be bought as refills and added over and over to the same container. Just beware of refills that come in plastic!
Depending on where you live, you might have another option
If you have a zero-waste or bulk store near you, you might be able to find package-free detergents and soaps that you can bring home in your own containers! These great online guides below can help you find out if any stores near you might offer package-free bulk options:
Zero Waste Home Bulk Finder Tool
Litterless: Zero Waste Grocery Guide
Instead of sponges, cloths, and brushes that are made from man-made, petroleum-based materials (a.k.a. plastic), try more natural, plant-based options.
Note: Many of the eco-swaps mentioned in this section are compostable at the end of their useful life. While these products are able to break down and recycled back into the soil through the practice of composting, they will not break down the same way if they end up trapped under layers of trash in a landfill without exposure to oxygen. To learn more about composting, see related post links at the bottom of this page.
Instead of using brightly-colored synthetic sponges, cloths, and brushes that end up in the garbage when they get worn out, there are many natural, more earth-friendly tools available for washing your dishes!
Sponges and scrubbers made from natural fibers
These Terraquip zero-waste eco-friendly sponges are made of sustainable plant cellulose and coconut fibers… no plastic here! Since they are made with 100% natural plant materials, they can be cut up into small pieces and added to your home compost (or just buried in your garden!) when the time comes for a fresh sponge.
Another alternative are these Heirloom Mayan Loofah Scrubbers, available on EarthHero. They are 100% natural, zero-waste, and also home compostable.
Plant-based dish cloths
For those who prefer to use a cloth for washing their dishes, Swedish dish cloths made from cotton and cellulose such as these (Skoy 4-pack or 10-pack) are a great option. They are machine-washable, fast-drying (which helps to prevent odors), and can be cut up and composted when it’s time to replace them with a new cloth. These long-lasting cloths can be used for all kinds of things around the home besides washing dishes, including as a replacement for disposable paper towels! Note: Swedish dish cloths come in lots of different colors, patterns and sets- and there are many brands to pick from too!
Plastic-free dish brushes
If you like using a brush to clean your dishes, this Redecker handcrafted dish brush is a great option for a plastic-free tool in your kitchen. Made from sustainably harvested wood and plant fiber bristles, this brush is designed so that the head can be replaced with a new one once it wears out. And best of all, the wood and bristles are compostable!
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Include other calculators– summarize categories, tips
Related Posts:
**List other calculator posts
Explore and Learn More:
Ecological Footprint
Carbon footprint articles/info
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This is a popular eco-friendly trick that saves on plastic and can help save money: Make your own hand soap – in your own reusable foaming soap pump – by mixing just a small amount of Castile soap and water!
Ideas:
Cut from another post– incorporate:
When it comes to washing hands, what is the most eco-friendly soap option? Well, when comparing traditional liquid soaps with bar soaps, bar soaps come out ahead as the more sustainable option.
But what should people do if they prefer liquid pump soaps, for one reason or another?
Well, it turns out there is another popular option that many people who aim for a low-waste, more Earth-friendly lifestyle have turned to: Making their own foaming handsoap in one easy step!
This option skips the single-use dispensers and uses castille soap, which is known to be —-
Cut language from kitchen article?
Add details about Dr. Bronners? 2 links below
https://www.drbronner.com/blogs/our-earth/packaging-innovations
https://medium.com/sustainable-thinking/the-life-changing-magic-of-foaming-hand-soap-3f784343b119#
Related Posts:
More ways to make your own- cleaning??
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One thing is for sure: Growing our own food involves a lot of trial and error and patience- but once you get the hang of it, it can be so fun and rewarding… and good for our planet at the same time.
-Pick location – convenient to get to/see, near water source – rain barrel?, enough sunlight (spend time in yard to watch sunlight patterns, and keep in mind that sun angles/positioning will change for winter if planning a winter garden
-Type of garden
-If you have limited space, pick fast-growing and/high yield/continually producing vegetables and fruits.
-Start small and grow over time
-Try natural gardening– natural pest control — quote about nature and garden
Pay attention to proper planting times– many vegetables are sensitive to frost and require warmer soil temps to germinate and grow
-Depending on the climate. you might be able to grow some things even through the winter! — Simple online search for area-specific resources
-Compost bin- make your own natural organic fertilizer. If you don’t have compost, you can find other organic fertilizers (rather than synthetic, chemical-based ones) to add to your garden
Pick often to encourage new growth
Compile ideas:
https://ncipmhort.cfans.umn.edu/ipm-bmp-cultural-control/vegetable-garden-best-management-practices-pollinators
***Search online for “start a vegetable garden”
Related Posts:
Why is growing our own food good for our planet? (check sp?)
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Summarize from Mogabay and BBC articles and link below:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200521-planting-trees-doesnt-always-help-with-climate-change
The message from all of this is that yes, we could all benefit from —— CHANGE -having more trees on our Earth. For biodiversity, for basic ecosystem services, and for protecting us against the effects of climate change. But restoring forests through tree planting has its limitations, and it can take a long time for small seedlings to grow into tall trees.
Does it make send to continue destroying our planet’s precious old-growth forests for our own uses, knowing what we do today? Even if we use our best effort to replant the right combination of trees in the right places, we are still at a loss in terms of biodiversity, climate resilience, and other —
Protecting the old-growth forests that still exist on our Earth
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Take advantage of containers
Overlap same containers in-between seasons
Plant smaller ground vegetables between taller ones
Focus on faster-growing, high-production vegetables rather than slow-growing vegetables that take up a lot of space (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage)
Plant a variety in small amounts to see what grows best- rather than only one or two crops that might not do as well as you hoped or expected
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For reference:
https://www.conservation.org/stories/11-deforestation-facts-you-need-to-know
**REMOVE WWF POSTS & incorporate basic concrete info
We all need healthy forests | WWF
What are the biggest drivers of tropical deforestation? | WWF
Deforestation Causes | WWF
“We’ve all got to come together, and we’ve got to protect what’s left of our ancient forests on this planet.” -Stella McCartney
Every day, forests are being lost due to human activities all around our planet. One place that we hear about a lot when it comes to deforestation is the Amazon…. over the last 50 years, about 17% of the Amazon rainforest has already been lost, and the rate has increased over recent years.
***also add a separate post about rainforests in general when they are destroyed** how other forests can be planted, but the ecosystems can never be the same as their natural state… AMazon soil too thin, desertification??
The biggest driver of deforestation and forest degradation around our planet is agricultural expansion for crops such as soy, palm oil, cocoa, and coffee, as well as pasture land for grazing livestock. Much of the soy produced around the world is actually for cows, chickens, and other farm-raised animals to eat!
Logging for wood and paper products is another major contributor to the destruction of forest ecosystems. Other causes of forest loss include urban development, mining, and drilling.
Learn more about deforestation in this quick video by National Geographic:
Here’s a more specific breakdown,
With how much we understand today about the urgent need to protect and preserve not only forests but ALL of our Earth’s ecosystems, it’s more important than ever to do what we can to help turn current trends around.
So many of our daily choices – from the foods we eat to the paper and wood products we choose to buy – can add up to have a real impact on Earth’s forests.
Following the tips below can help to reduce our overall environmental impact and protect our planet’s precious forest ecosystems.
When shopping, look for forest-friendly labels and certifications
Many of the products on store shelves today are directly linked with deforestation, often in faraway places. As consumers, it’s important to be aware of the environmental impact of what we buy so we can make planet-friendly purchases as much as possible.
Rainforest Alliance logo– explain food products– chocolate, coffee, etc
Palm Oil-
As for paper products, look for those that are made from recycled content. The “FSC Recycled” symbol indicates products that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as being made with 100% recycled material.
Buy deforestation-free bathroom tissue
Many paper-making giants are still using virgin wood from ancient forests to make disposable paper products… including toilet paper. (Link to NRDC Report)
Reduce use of paper– including single-use paper products
Paper napkins, paper towels, paper plates… all
When buying wood furniture, choose second-hand when possible
When it comes to furniture, looking for “pre-loved” options instead of new ones is a great way to conserve resources and help protect forests. –ou can often discover unique pieces that you would not find in a regular store. can help save a lot of money, too.
Keep cardboard and paper products in the loop!
ADD– Reusing boxes, being careful to use paper wisely– and then be sure to recycle them so they don’t go to waste.
Support conservation organizations that are working to protect our forests Rainforest Alliance, NRDC- more?
Keeping forests and our overall impact on the Earth in mind as we make decisions in our everyday lives can go a long way to reducing our personal footprint. Together, our collective small changes can make a huge difference.
Related Posts:
Saving paper
Bathroom tissue/bidet
Other forest posts
Explore and Learn More:
The Issue with Tissue
Deforestation explained | National Geographic
Does forest certification really work? | Mongabay
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***Just introduce video here and not include much text detail?
Trends in tree planting– highlight key facts from Mongabay article below
Decade on restoration
Replanting monoculture vs native forest species
Related Posts:
Bathroom tissue
Paper use
Amazon/Rainforest facts
Explore and Learn More:
Is planting trees as good for the Earth as everyone says? | Mongabay
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Basic facts about rainforests with reference
Intro Rainforest Alliance
Look for Rainforest Alliance
Pay attention to palm oil
Support organizations such as the Rainforest Alliance, — more that are doing so much to protect– . Through their work, these organizations are helping to safeguard our future and that of all other living things that we share it with. **Change?
Explore and Learn More:
**Link to Rainforest Alliance site
**Add pic, meta
Paper recycling facts
Store and reuse for shipping, uses around the home
Drop off at the shipping store?
Offer to friends, family, neighbors
**Add pic, meta** Add bottom links *Change title?
You diligently put your cans, cardboard, and other recyclables into the blue bin, week after week. But have you ever wondered what happens to your recyclables after they get picked up and carried away?
Watch this information-packed video below for an overview of the sorting and recycling process:
Related Posts:
Plastic- complicated
Facts to know about recycling
Explore and Learn More:
Ellen MacArthur
Global Recycling Day (Celebrated on March 18th each year)
*Add pic and meta**
**Facts about endangered species– gorillas, etc
Causes- separate in-depth post?
What we can do– palm oil, deforestation, support conservation organizations MORE
**Add meta**
https://unctad.org/news/90-fish-stocks-are-used-fisheries-subsidies-must-stop
https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/overfishing
https://www.fao.org/fisheries/en/
https://unctad.org/news/90-fish-stocks-are-used-fisheries-subsidies-must-stop
Mangroves, trawling, impacts of overfishing and large-scale fishing methods
**Talk about proven benefits of marine reserves– The Nature of Nature book– add quote?
Explore More:
Blue Planet Series
Book- A World Without Fish- Mark K
**Add pic, meta, change number in title??**
**Add pic and meta**
Refer to Enric Sala’s book The Nature of Nature– add quote??
**Add pic, meta, tags**
In this small town in the mountains of Japan, “garbage” is a thing of the past…
**Insert video!
Wait! Those apple cores, banana peels, and other organics don’t belong in the garbage. Trapped in landfills, these materials can’t break down properly in the absence of oxygen. But we can choose to send them on a different path where they can decompose naturally and be recycled back into the soil.
This short and eye-opening video by Kiss the Ground explains very clearly why the practice of composting is so important… not only in keeping the soil that all of life depends on healthy but in helping to protect our planet! (7-min)
Related Posts:
-why we all need to care about composting
Start recycling nature’s way today!
-find composting
**All composting posts!!
Soil STory post
Explore and Learn More:
**Composting resources page
**Report: Composting in America
composting council
**Add pic, meta, more tags? ***MAJOR EDIT!!! OLD POST
Litter… unfortunately, we can find it everywhere. It can be along the sidewalk in our neighborhood, laying inparticipate in a cleanup event or help scientists study wildlife through citizen science programs, there are all kinds of great ways to get involved in the global movement to protect our environment!
–plogging/dog walk
-dog walk- litter pick ups
-family time
-heading to the beach?
Larger cleanup events:
People have created a lot of “stuff” over time, and unfortunately, a lot of these unwanted materials end up in places where they don’t belong, where they become a threat to wildlife and pollute our planet’s land and water. Plastics that get out on the loose in our environment just wear down into smaller and smaller pieces over time… but never really go away.
Whether it’s participating in an event to help clean up a local river, park, or beach, participating in a cleanup event is a great way to get involved in the movement to help our planet.
The International Coastal Cleanup – Each year, The Ocean Conservancy gathers volunteers from around the world in an effort to clean up beaches and coastal waters. While the main cleanup event has traditionally been held in September, cleanups are ongoing year-round. You can find the results of clean-ups around the world using this interactive map on their website. To get involved, you can either join an existing group or create a group of your own!
Earth Day Cleanup Events – This interactive map on Earthday.org displays organized cleanups and other events planned around the world in celebration of Earth Day yearly on April 22nd. People can also add their own organized events on this map.
Year-round cleanup events – As awareness about our worsening problems with waste and plastic pollution has grown over recent years, cleanup events are now organized throughout the year. Doing a quick online search for local cleanup events at any time of year can be a great way to discover opportunities to get involved in helping to clean up our planet. Or, if you know of a spot where a lot of trash is building up, why not just organize your own cleanup effort?
***Add meta**
Basic facts about plastic bags use– link to other article with more detail on problems with plastic bags
**Reusable bags– facts– can be used at any store, not just to carry home groceries!
**Not All Reusable bags are created equally
Read- incorporate some info? https://qz.com/1585027/when-it-comes-to-climate-change-cotton-totes-might-be-worse-than-plastic/
The Downside of Reusable Bags More People Need to Be Thinking About
We might have good intentions about using reusable bags, but getting into the habit
Reusable shopping bags!
They come in many shapes and sizes and are made with a variety of materials. Some may be trendy and stylish-looking, while others are just the “good-old basic bag with two handles” kind.
But whatever type of reusable bag they may be, they all share one very important purpose… to take the place of single-use bags that waste SO many resources and take a huge toll on wildlife & our environment!
While it is true that reusable bags themselves have an environmental footprint and that not all of them are created equally (they have to be manufactured and transported, too!), the main key is to find a few that work for us – ideally, some we already have – and then do our best to take them with us… each and every time we head to the store.
The more we use the same reusable bags over and over again to avoid single-use ones, the bigger their positive impact on the environment becomes!
It might seem like a simple little thing, but getting into the reusable bag habit can definitely take a conscious effort until we really get used to it. But once we do, it’s easy to see what a HUGE difference it makes in the amount of single-use plastic (or paper) we bring home!
(And if we find that we have more reusable bags than we really need, why not pass a few along to someone else who could use them?) 😊
Use the bags you have, over and over… and over again!
We might have some reusable bags laying around from promotional giveaways, or we might have bought a few that we liked over the years. Many of us already have them in our homes the main key is to gather a few that work for you and then remember to bring them with us when we head to the store… and keep using them again and again!
If you find yourself with extra bags, pass them along so they can do their job elsewhere
There is no sense in having 15 reusable bags hanging around our houses if we only ever really use, say, 4-5 at once. So if we find ourselves with extras laying around that we aren’t ever using, the best thing we can do is pass them along to someone who needs them… so they can start putting them to good use, too! After all, that is the point of reusable bags, right? 🙂
**Change title??* incorporate into other post??
For reference only: https://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/blog/6016/3-everyday-foods-that-contain-microplastics/
They can be found in rainwater, on mountaintops, and all oPlastic can be found nearly everywhere these days. And while we can clearly see it in the countless products and packaging all around us, plastic is ending up in many places that aren’t as obvious, including our Earth’s oceans, soil, air, and food chains… including our own.
This short yet powerful video helps to open our eyes to some of the major problems that plastic is causing for us, other living things, and our environment.
In 2019, the World Wildlife Fund published an eye-opening analysis that highlighted the results of a groundbreaking study done by the University of Newcastle in Australia to examine microplastics in the human food chain.
This study helped to shed light on many important findings, including:
The analysis concluded that an average person could be eating and drinking 5 grams of plastic every week… which is about the equivalent of the amount of plastic in a credit card!
Other sources of plastic ingestion included beer, salt, and shellfish, particularly when the entire body of the animal is eaten.
To learn more, read the full analysis here: No Plastic in Nature: Assessing Plastic Ingestion from Nature to People
What can we do as individuals to help address our planet’s plastic pollution problem?
Related Posts:
6 Eco-friendly on-the-go essentials
8 Shopping tips to reduce plastic waste
Kitchen
Bathroom
Explore and Learn More:
How Plastic Has Entered the Food Chain | Plastic Soup Foundation
Microplastics in our Nation’s Waterways | U.S. Geological Survey
No Plastic in Nature: Assessing Plastic Ingestion from Nature to People | WWF
Are Microplastics in Food a Threat to Your Health? | Healthline
**Change title**? Add meta **join with other post about rewilding yard?
Rewilding yard- partial area..
Trees
Address invasive, non-native species…
Every little thing we can do in our daily lives to cut back on energy use and reduce the amount of waste we produce can help to shrink our environmental footprint. If we can do these things and add some green into the mix, even better!
Ready, set, grow! Whether it be herbs on your windowsill, tomatoes on your patio, or a garden full of veggies, growing your own fresh produce at home – whether outside or inside, checks all of these boxes.***Move to
When we can grow some of our food at home, we bypass the energy and other resources that must be used in transportation, processing, and packaging that are involved in getting your food to your plate. **Expand this
Many fresh herbs come packaged in wasteful plastic containers that are often not accepted for recycling through curbside programs. These can create a lot of waste when you add them up throughout the year! And then, once the herbs you bought are used up, you are back to square one.
You can solve both of these problems and grow your favorites inside!
When it’s too cold for outdoor gardening, growing your favorite herbs, microgreens, or sprouts indoors can be a great way to continue using your green thumb indoors!
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/a20705923/indoor-herb-garden/
Indoor herbs, baby greens- save money, packaging
Microgreens, sprouts
Explore and Learn More:
Your Guide to Growing, Drying, and Storing Herbs and Spices | Consumer Reports
**Change title/angle??
-Since they are plastic, they can take a long time to degrade– hundreds or thousands of years. Even still, many will slowly just break into tiny microplastics that just continue to build up around the environment.
Since they are small, they often slip under the radar and often go unnoticed… but these sources of plastic pollution can really add up and cause harm to wildlife and our environment! Whether they are mistaken by wildlife for food, used to build a nest, floating down waterways, or even just buried in the soil.
We all need to work together to keep our environment clean, and healthy. For the sake of
**Modify?
**Add meta** Change title?? REORGANIZE!!
It seems that when it comes to some of these small items, some places are becoming aware of their polluting nature and putting restrictions on their use in place. For example, many parts of Florida, including Boca Raton, have initiated bans on balloons, confetti, and plastic foam containers at parks and other city properties.
While bans can help to limit the use of these kinds of items, the more people become aware of their damaging properties – and more eco-friendly alternatives – hopefully, more and more people will join hands to take action on their own!
A note about microbeads and microfibers: While microbeads aren’t really in the same category as the items above since they are things people use directly, they are a huge contributor to plastic pollution in waterways and are important to mention here:
. Microbeads
Microfibers
Explore and learn more:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/cigarettes-story-of-plastic?loggedin=true
https://sciencing.com/effects-bubble-gum-environment-8439501.html
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/22/glitter-environment-microplastics-hazard
**Use blue star pic from birmingham park!
**Add meta and tags
Problem with standard store-bought confetti
Flower petals
-Leaf confetti
-Plastic-free confetti
**Add pic, tags, meta**
US
https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions
Global:
FAO Report for reference: https://www.fao.org/3/a0701e/a0701e03.pdf
**Add pic and meta***
https://www.nrdc.org/experts/alison-chase/marine-protected-areas-are-key-our-future
https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/ocean-acidification
https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php
https://www.cleanwateraction.org/2019/07/30/truth-about-pesticides#
*pic, tags, meta**
Overview of major environmental problems: https://interestingengineering.com/11-ways-humans-impact-the-environment
June 5th– add FB blurb
Videos– 2021 message?
https://action.worldenvironmentday.global/
***Add meta** Change number??
Climate Action Network https://climatenetwork.org/
First define carbon footprint
****Contains tips to reduce packaging waste: https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2019/04/22/asked-eco-friendly-garbage-bags/
When we think of reducing our carbon footprint, we often tend to think of conserving energy as one of the main ways to reduce fossil fuel use and carbon emissions. And while our energy use definitely plays a big part in determining our carbon footprint, there are all kinds of other personal actions and habits that can be factored into this calculation.
Of course, the goal here is not to achieve a “perfect” carbon footprint. There is no such thing! All we can do is start right where we are, assess our personal habits and lifestyle, and make the changes we can from there. Awareness is the first key step!
Carpool, bike, walk
Reduce household energy use
Green energy
Conserve water
Be careful about paper use
Plastic use and packaging waste
Reduce
Recycle
Food waste
Compost
Grow your own food
Explore planet-based diet– link to WWF
Support organic and regenerative agriculture
Plant trees and promote biodiversity in our yards– native plants– more plants and trees growing helps to absorb more CO2 **CONFIRM
Learn about products and foods that contribute most to deforestation
https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/green-tips
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200224-how-cutting-your-food-waste-can-help-the-climate
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-reduce-carbon-footprint
https://davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/top-10-ways-can-stop-climate-change/
https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/eatgreenfs_feb2010.pdf
https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/carbon-footprint-calculator/
Food climate quiz https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/longform/quiz-do-you-know-how-your-diet-affects-planet
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
**Add meta, change pic and use this for the “Getting started with home composting” post?
Post focus: What composting is, brief history *CUT from Eco Ellie section!!*
For reference:
Add pic and meta!!
Copy from on-the-go essentials
CHANGE SENTENCE: In a growing number of extra eco-conscious coffee houses, buying coffee in a disposable cup is not even an option anymore!
For reference: https://ourworld.unu.edu/en/storm-in-a-paper-cup
**Add pic, meta, tags **Change title?
https://www.5gyres.org/plastic-pollution-facts
**Add pic, tags, and meta** **Change title and number??
https://getbusygardening.com/benefits-of-a-rain-barrel/
https://www.worldwildlife.org/blogs/sustainability-works/posts/saving-water-and-money-with-rain-barrels
WWF and EPA articles
-Reduce runoff from gutters – reduces erosion and pollution in local waterways
-Reduced household water use and saves money on water bills!
– Rainwater is healthier for plants compared with municipal water that has been through the treatment process
Important note: Water collected from rooftops should never be used for drinking!
*Add pic** **Change number???*
https://thinkearth.org/images/zdocs/Ways-to-Think-Earth45.pdf
https://kids.niehs.nih.gov/topics/reduce/reduce-waste/index.htm
https://thriveglobal.com/stories/10-simple-ways-kids-can-help-the-earth/
SOOO goodbelow:
Add pics and meta
https://extension.psu.edu/renewable-and-nonrenewable-resources
https://www.bbsd.com/cms/lib/PA01916419/Centricity/Domain/94/Earths%20materials.pdf
Reference: https://www.wilderness.org/articles/blog/7-ways-oil-and-gas-drilling-bad-environment
**Add pic and meta** Add more tags
Containers – mention different kinds – can work for patios, balconies – and even indoors
Make the most of your space – some fruits and veggies are better for pots than others. Things to consider include how much space plants will need, how long they take to produce, and how much yield plants will provide. For example, growing one head of broccoli in a pot vs. a tomato or pepper plant that will keep producing all season).
With so many factors to consider, it’s a good idea to do some research on the best options for your area before getting started.
Keeping the environment in mind: Pesticides, pollinators
Add ideas from below:
https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/garden-ideas/g19623922/indoor-vegetable-garden/
Related posts:
Explore and Learn More:
**Add meta, tags, and pic** Change title?
When it comes to making our laundry routine more eco-friendly, there are all kinds of things we can do. We can swap to plastic-free laundry detergents, avoid using dryer sheets, and set our washing machines on the cold or eco settings.
**Add wording from IG post and modify!
Things dry fastest on sunnier days, but it can still work on cloudy days, as long as the humidity isn’t too high. If there is a slight breeze, even better!
Gather tips:
https://www.cleancult.com/blog/8-reasons-why-you-should-air-dry-your-clothes
https://www.thespruce.com/reasons-not-to-line-dry-clothes-2146726
https://www.thespruce.com/reasons-to-line-dry-laundry-2145997
https://www.treehugger.com/dont-stop-hanging-your-clothes-out-dry-winter-4858725
https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/the-dos-and-don-ts-of-air-drying-everything-you-own-52998
Freeze Drying? Yes, Drying Clothes Outside in Winter Really Works
Dryer – one of those appliances that use a lot of energy:
Indoor vs. outdoor
Here are some helpful outdoor laundry-hanging tips:
-Shaking towels and other items before hanging can help to fluff them up and reduce stiffness
-Avoid hanging items with bright or dark colors in direct sunlight to prevent fading
-Keep an eye on weather forecasts and pollen counts
-Give items another quick shake before bringing them inside
Meta and pic, tags
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/six-ways-nature-can-protect-us-climate-change
https://www.iucn.org/news/europe/201801/spirit-nature-everything-connected
For reference only: https://www.conservation.org/blog/new-map-pinpoints-where-people-depend-on-nature-the-most
**Add pic, tags, and meta!!**
NWF resources
How to build/maintenance
Reference? https://gizmodo.com/your-cheap-ass-bee-house-is-probably-killing-the-bees-1835321883
**Add pic and meta** Add # of tips to title?
Why Conserve Water if it’s Renewable? [Importance & Benefits of Conserving Water]
https://www.epa.gov/watersense/how-we-use-water
https://www.epa.gov/p2/pollution-prevention-tips-water-conservation
https://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/DNR-News-Releases/ArticleID/506/Where-Does-Water-Go-After-it-Goes-Down-the-Drain
Below copied from Eco Ellie- modify! **Copy new version!!
Water… All living things depend on it to survive. While we might not stop to think about it all the time, we humans depend on water for so many different things throughout our day besides drinking. We use water for bathing, cooking, watering lawns and gardens, washing dishes, clothes, dogs, and cars. A huge amount of water is also used in agriculture and the manufacturing process of many products we use.
For many people, water might seem like it’s an endless resource: All we have to do is turn on the faucet, and out it comes! So one might wonder, why is it so important to be careful about our water use?
Edit below!!!
But even though it might seem like there is plenty of water on our planet, less than 1% of all the water on Earth is actually available for people to use. Most of it is saltwater in the oceans, and the rest is in places where it isn’t easily accessible, like in the soil, up in the clouds, or frozen in glaciers. Even though the total amount of water that cycles between the atmosphere and different places on Earth always stays the same, there is only so much water available in a certain area at one time – so it’s very important to use it wisely!
When it comes to things we can do at home to help protect water resources, most generally fall under two main areas:
1) Using water wisely and taking steps to reduce overall use, and
2) Taking care not to add materials and substances into our water supply and waterways that can contribute to pollution
Here are some of the basics to keep in mind when it comes to conserving and protecting water resources at home:
**# tips and add to title?
Add link to water footprint calculator:
Lots of ideas: Add rain barrel, watering can?
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-conserve-water
Water pollution can affect affects all living thiThis charm wildlife, but us, too.
Conserving water can help our environment in many different ways. When people are more careful about their water use, less water is taken out of rivers and lakes where all kinds of other living things also depend on it. Using less water also helps to conserve energy, since water has to be cleaned in special facilities before and after people use it. Being careful not to add harmful chemicals to the water is very important, too, since they can harm wildlife and cause all kinds of other changes and problems for us and our environment when they collect in rivers, lakes, and other places in the environment.
Explore and Learn More: **Check links– nothing political on NRDC??
Water Pollution: Everything You Need to Know | Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
What’s Your Water Footprint? | Water Footprint Calculator
**Add pic, meta, tags** Change title?
Introduce major non-profit groups– include videos
https://www.treehugger.com/the-environmental-groups-that-dominate-facebook-4868636
How can we help?
Donate
Get involved
Spread the word
Give thanks
Add pics and meta
https://extension.psu.edu/renewable-and-nonrenewable-resources
**Add pic and meta** Add wording already started in WORD?? *Change number of tips
-Cone vs cup
-Fountain/draught drinks in reusable cups — bring your own cup,
-Kids– skip the disposable kids cup
-Skip the straw
-Ask for dressings, sauces in reusable containers — if you know they usually use single-use plastic sauce cups/lids
Ask places if they recycle their glass/plastic bottles. If not, why not bring them home with you and put them in your own recycling bin!
You don’t need a lot of space – or even a garden – to grow some of your own tasty fruits and veggies at home. Many can be grown in small pots – and many herbs and other things can even grow well inside with the proper amount of light.
Growing your own food can help to save resources, reduce pollution and waste from packaging, and can be really fun and rewarding!
Growing some of our own fresh fruits and veggies at home is not only good for our planet… it’s good for us, too.
— conserving resources
-Reduce carbon footprint of transportation,
-Reduced packaging
-Use natural pest control methods and fertilizers- avoid pesticides — quote about insects part of ecosystem– often insects that take over are invasive?? check
-Understand and appreciate how food grows- constant learning experience!
-Spend time outdoors – fresh air — Plus, gardening gets us moving and can be great exercise!
-Relaxing –away from technology and the busyness of everyday life
-Rewarding!
-Connects us to the Earth
Add from below:
Beginning of this article has environmental benefits:
https://ncipmhort.cfans.umn.edu/ipm-bmp-cultural-control/vegetable-garden-best-management-practices-pollinators
The environmental benefits of growing your own fruits and vegetables
https://www.vegansociety.com/news/blog/why-we-should-grow-our-own-veg
More details and ideas to add GREAT SUSTAINABILITY IDEAS: https://www.terrapass.com/blog/gardening-reduce-carbon-footprint
**Incorporate and delete link below!**
Explore and Learn More:
**Add pics and meta***
Add pic and meta, tags
Avoid single-use plastic wraps and bags
Pack reusable utensils when needed
Make batches from home to avoid single-serving packaging– popcorn muffins
Reusable water bottle
**Duplicate??
-Own bags
-Plan ahead- only buy what you really need
-Leave with cup/mug
-Buy single bananas
-2nd hand
**Add pics and meta**
Reference– don’t link Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffkart/2018/08/28/the-ocean-cleanup-is-starting-aims-to-cut-garbage-patch-by-90-by-2040/?sh=6eadb201253e
Link to The Ocean Cleanup
Ocean Conservancy ICC and Top 10 trash items
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
**Add pics and meta** Later– does this repeat too much?? Delete??
The Ocean Cleanup–
Cleanup events
CleanSwell app and other apps
Prevention at the source– reducing plastic
**Stats** use links below
https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/ocean_plastics/
10 of the most dangerous plastic products polluting our oceans
***Incorporate all of these!! https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/get-involved/what-you-can-do/
****Add??***
Grocery and other shopping bags
Produce bags
Bottles
Straws
Coffee/drink cup
Plates
Containers
Utensils
Stirrers
Food storage bags
Plastic Wrap
Some things we can do to help?
**ICC- September- Clean Swell
**Support the Ocean Cleanup and other cleanup efforts
LINK TO “A PLASTIC OCEAN” TRAILER
Related Posts:
*** 8 Huge reasons to — plastic **check
***Single-use plastic posts
**Garbage patch
Explore and Learn More:
Ocean Conservancy Trash Free Seas Program
The Ocean Cleanup.org
UNESCO: Facts and Figures on Marine Pollution
Center for Biological Diversity: Ocean Plastics Pollution
NOAA: What and Where are Garbage Patches?
**Add pic and meta**
Define ocean acidification
Learn more in this short video by the Natural Resources Defence Council:
Related Posts:
Oceans need our help
Reducing carbon footprint
Explore and Learn More:
**Find good resources
**Add pic and meta** Adjust title?? Later post
Ideas– research first– https://www.diyncrafts.com/4732/repurpose/25-foods-can-re-grow-kitchen-scraps
**Add pics and meta** **Look up more and change number??
For reference: https://www.greencalgary.org/blog/top-5-things-you-thought-were-compostable
Lint from non-natural fabrics
Dryer sheets
Paper plates & cups- unless they don’t have waterproof coating and labeled as home compostable
Gum
Cardboard and paper products with shiny moisture-resistant or waterproof coatings – some types of wax paper (if petroleum-free and labeled home compostable, ok), some cardboard to-go boxes with shiny interior coating, and butcher or deli paper
Biodegradable plastics that are not labeled as “home compostable”
Paper towels and other paper products that are soiled with chemical-based cleaning products, paint, or other chemicals
Sawdust from treated wood and wood composite materials (very small pieces of solid, untreated wood and sawdust from natural wood is fine for composting)
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
**Add pic and meta**
Bar soap is always an option… but for those who prefer liquid hand soaps, there are all kinds of options available today that don’t involve buying individual plastic pump containers. **Hand soap is something that households can go through quickly, and when we add up all of the bottles and pumps – especially since they are not usually recyclable (link) this can add up over time to a lot of plastic waste!
-Concentrates
-Tablets
-Pods
-Refill
-Make your own foaming – link to post
Ideas:
CHeck all- WATCH first
The Lorax
A Beautiful Planet
Hoot?
**Add pic and meta** Future series!! Add category
**Add pic and meta**
My Octopus Teacher
Our Planet series
Other David Attenborough docs
Jane Goodall
**More**
***ADD Chasing Coral, remove Before the Flood
Some documentaries are so powerful that when people finish watching them, they might see things in a whole new light. These films and television series are must-see material for anyone who wants to learn more about the environmental challenges we face and discover some ideas and solutions that can help us to turn current trends around.
So if you are looking for some new additions for your watch list, these eye-opening environmental documentaries are definitely worth checking out!
In this incredible film, legendary broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough takes viewers on a journey to show how human activities and the changes we have made to our planet over time have taken a huge toll on the rest of the natural world. He helps us to understand why we need to protect the variety of life on our Earth and shares his vision for the urgent changes we need to make to ensure a more sustainable future for all living things.
In this eye-opening and captivating documentary, Academy Award winning actor and United Nations Messenger of Peace Leonardo DiCaprio explores many of the complex issues surrounding our global climate emergency. He takes viewers around the world as he speaks with experts and government leaders to discuss the causes, effects, and possible solutions to what the United Nations has called “one of the most pressing issues of our time.”
This award-winning documentary directed by renowned journalist and filmmaker Craig Leeson helps to open our eyes to the serious issue of plastic pollution in our Earth’s oceans. Although it can be alarming to watch at times, this groundbreaking film brings viewers to 20 locations around the world for a close-up look at some of the major causes of ocean pollution as well as its devastating effects on marine life and the environment, leaving us with a clear message that we must act now and each do what we can to help.
This uplifting documentary narrated by actor Woody Harrelson is all about solutions! It explores how our food system and soil health are closely connected with the issue of climate change, and shows us how bringing soils back to life through regenerative agriculture can play a critical role in bringing our Earth’s climate back into balance.
This fascinating documentary takes a close look at the issue of food waste, starting from where food is produced all the way down to what people do with the leftovers on their plates. It shows us how food waste is directly linked to many of the environmental problems we now face and offers real solutions for how we can bring about much-needed changes.
In this Emmy Award-winning documentary series, well-known celebrities are the correspondents who take viewers on in-depth investigations to explore many of the complex issues surrounding climate change and help us to better understand how they are all interconnected.
Season 1 Trailer:
Season 2 Trailer:
The more we learn about and understand the issues facing us and our planet, the more effectively we can work together to bring about positive change.
**Add pic and meta!* Change number in title?? Add more tips?
More ideas:
https://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/gifts/eco-friendly-wrapping-paper
Related Posts:
gift-giving ideas post
**Add pic, tags and Meta, **MORE COMPLEX– need to research more
https://www.thoughtco.com/do-biodegradable-items-really-break-down-1204144
https://www.eater.com/2020/1/15/21065446/compostable-take-out-containers **Watch out for chemical and plastic liners/coatings
https://www.epa.gov/trash-free-waters/frequently-asked-questions-about-plastic-recycling-and-composting
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/biodegradable-compostable-tips-36905776
Biodegradable vs. Compostable – What Do They Mean & Which Is Better?
Resources, land to make disposable plant-based alternatives
Compostable VS just biodegradable
Even when we discover something is compostable, we still have more to find out:
Is it home compostable, or only industrially compostable?
If it’s certified home compostable and you have a backyard compost bin, municipal compost collection, or a local composting service (link to compost now), great! That’s where these materials can end up, back in the natural cycle the way they were designed to do. But what if we don’t have any of these options, and we just throw compostable materials away? **Methane, waste, space in landfills
If something is labeled as only industrially compostable, this can get pretty tricky, as many people do not have access to one of these facilities nearby. So, once again, these materials are likely to end up in the garbage, wasting resources, taking up space in landfills, and giving off methane.
So, even though forks and spoons made of bamboo or plant starch might not be contributing to plastic pollution, they can still be a problem when they end up in a landfill. And unfortunately, this is where a lot of them end up.
The best solution? Opt for reusables whenever possible!
Related Posts:
Dissection American Landfill
Explore and Learn More:
Do Biodegradable Items Degrade in Landfills? | ThoughtCo.
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Zero-waste stores
Online marketplaces
Individual products
Mention: https://abettersource.org/
Related Posts:
Zero waste Shopping
Common features of eco products
Explore and Learn More:
**Add pic and meta**
-Bars- face cleansers, scrubs, moisturizers, treatments
-Concentrates- body wash and lotions – mix yourself- small box Ethique
-Return and refills – Plaine Products
-Removable inserts- powders, etc
More??
**Add pic and meta**
Watch ingredients
Plastic-free products
Make your own bathroom scrub:
-Baking soda
-Sal Suds
-Peroxide
Related Posts:
-Laundry
-Dishwashing
**Add eta, pics, tags
There are many to make your laundry routine more Earth-friendly:
1. Choose Earth-friendly, plastic-free laundry detergents that contain environmentally-safe ingredients **link to: https://sciencing.com/environmental-impacts-of-detergent-5135590.html
See related post: Eco-friendly laundry products? Choose plastic-free!
2. Use eco warm setting, and wash on cold when you can
3. Hang clothes to try when possible! Dryers use a lot of energy… so any opportunities we can get to hang dry our clothes instead of putting them in the dryer can help reduce our impact! This can be done inside on a rack or hanging outside on a rack or clothesline. And saving energy is not only good for the Earth- it saves money, too!
4. Watch out for microfibers
5. Swap out single-use dryer sheets
6. DIY dryer “balls”
7. Let your laundry air-dry
Related Post: hanging laundry
More Related Posts:
Quick Start Guide
Kitchen swaps
**Add pic, tags, and meta**
https://www.sustainablejungle.com/zero-waste/zero-waste-dish-soap/#why
https://www.sustainablylazy.com/blog/plasticfreesponge
https://www.reusablenation.com/zero-waste-living/zero-waste-dishwashing-all-the-plastic-free-dishwasher-and-hand-washing-options
https://www.sustainably-chic.com/blog/eco-friendly-dish-soap-zero-waste-dishwasher-detergents
11 Plastic Free Dishwasher Detergents Without Plastic (Zero-Waste)
12 Ways to make your kitchen more eco-friendly — change number?? Diff title?
*Add pics and meta** Check – already started similar article???
Recycling is a very important choice we have to make, often on a daily basis. It is the choice between sending something on a path so the materials can be kept in the loop and used again to make something else, or a path where something ends up being buried, burned, or floating in the oceans… and wasted.
When it comes to recycling, not everything is created equally. Some things, like glass and aluminum, can be recycled endlessly without losing quality… as long as they are properly recycled, of course.
First, try to find out exactly what the recycling options are in your area– include collection, drop-off, and mail away
Touch on compostable items
List common non-recyclable items
https://how2recycle.info/news/2017/3-things-that-arent-actually-recyclable
https://earth911.com/business-policy/recycling-plastic-clamshells/
So, when it comes to these things that aren’t recyclable or compostable… the very best solution is to try and do our best to avoid them!
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
Earth911 Directory
Recycle Nation search
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*Change number in title?**
-Delete emails
-Cose browsers
-Get off email lists
-Turn off computer, or put in sleep mode
***More ideas!!
**Add pics and meta!! **Change titles to headings, bold, italicize
“Children are born with a sense of wonder and an affinity for Nature. Properly cultivated, these values can mature into ecological literacy, and eventually into sustainable patterns of living.” -Zenobia Barlow
It’s a simple concept that really makes sense:
The more time kids can spend outdoors learning about and connecting with the natural world, the more likely they will be to care about protecting wildlife and our environment as they grow up. And our planet desperately needs as many nature-loving, environmentally conscious people – of all ages – to take care of it.
In today’s technology age, though, children often don’t spend as much time outside as children of previous generations did. But we as adults can help to turn these trends around!
There are lots of different ways we can help to deepen this connection between children and the natural world:
EDIT LIST!!!!
Ideas? https://www.weareteachers.com/50-ways-to-bring-nature-into-the-classroom/
Go on regular hikes & nature walks
Look for different kinds of living things in the backyard & at local parks ~ and then try to identify them and do some research together to learn some interesting facts about each!
Play educational nature games
Grow a garden Reference tips: http://www.growyourownnevada.com/connect-kids-with-nature-through-gardening/
Visit nature centers &
Explore wildlife preserves and refuges, both locally and while traveling
Take the time to learn about the natural world that surrounds us every day:
Identify flowers, insects, birds, and leaves and learn about them
Listen for the sounds of nature – birds, frogs, insects… and try to figure out what they are
Dig in the soil and discover
Do a mini scientific survey – This can be done on a small patch of ground, a sample of soil, or the side of a tree. See how many different living things you can find!
Do a backyard scavenger hunt!
Plan a group litter pick-up (Safely & Don’t forget gloves!)
Participate in citizen science programs to help scientists study birds, insects, and other wildlife
Download the Seek by iNaturalist app
More ideas? https://www.weareteachers.com/50-ways-to-bring-nature-into-the-classroom/
When it’s not ideal weather for outdoor activities, try these indoor options:
Read books about nature
Watch nature documentaries
Visit natural history museums
For more fun and creative ideas, check out the National Wildlife Federation’s Green Hour program. This amazing resource offers so many projects and games along with environmental facts and tips to help kids learn about and connect with nature.
Get outside! Hike, explore backyard nature
Use apps like iSeek – bird ID and can help adults using reporting apps
Get involved in citizen science – butterfly, ladybug, sunflower
**Add pic and meta** Change title? Only video with intro???
https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/freshwater-systems
World Wetland Day
**Add pic and meta
See if there is something you already have- often washable rags & cloths can do the trick!
Napkins
https://earth911.com/home-garden/breaking-americas-paper-towel-addiction/
Articles below for Ref only!!!
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/12/paper-towels-us-use-consume/577672/
https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/ask-mr-green/2014/03/hey-mr-green-it-more-ecofriendly-use-rags-or-paper-towels
Related Posts:
Eco-friendly kitchen
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When it comes to the eco-friendliest product options for laundry care these days, they all have one thing in common: They don’t come in a bulky plastic bottle!
There are detergent strips in little cardboard sleeves, concentrated laundry powders in compostable bags, tablets & pods with dissolvable wraps, natural soap berries (a.k.a. “soap nuts”), and even stain remover bars that come in little boxes – or no box at all! They might not appear in the laundry care aisle of many stores yet, but they can easily be found online shops that specialize in plastic-free and other eco-friendly products.
While these products may all look very different from each other, they all have the same Earth-friendly feature in common: No bulky plastic jugs and containers needed! This not only saves on lots of plastic, but since these products come in concentrated form, they are much more compact and have a smaller carbon footprint when it comes to transportation. Many of them are also made using very simple, clean ingredients that are better for both us and our environment.
Give examples of each category — affiliate links??
Ideas? https://ecotero.com/zero-waste-laundry-detergents
https://www.treehugger.com/ditch-laundry-jugs-and-go-plastic-free-4858737#
While these products might not be found in the laundry care aisle of most average stores yet, they can be easily found through online shops that specialize in plastic-free and other eco-friendly products.
CUT AND PASTED BELOW FROM ANOTHER POST:
There are so many plastic-free laundry supplies available these days!
Over the last many years, we have seen a growing variety of more natural, eco-friendly laundry care products making an appearance on store shelves… which is definitely a great step-up from the colorful, chemical-filled detergents that are out there. But the problem is, many of these cleaner laundry products still have one not-so-Earth-friendly thing in common… they come in big bulky plastic containers!
There are so many great plastic-free, zero waste laundry care products out there these days!
They come in lots of different forms… from dissolvable strips in cardboard sleeves, to compact tablets wrapped in biodegradable films that come in small boxes, to natural powder detergents in compostable bags and pouches or refillable metal containers, to soap berries that can be composted when you are done with them!
Related Posts:
Household products
Kitchen swaps
**Add pic and meta, tags **LATER POST *Change title?
**Conservation International’s work
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/why-amazon-doesnt-produce-20-percent-worlds-oxygen?loggedin=true
Define microbeads – type of microplastic
Even though microbeads have been banned from certain types of products in some areas, many personal care and beauty products available today still contain microplastics that can end up finding their way into waterways after they are washed down the drain.
The Beat the Microbead app developed by the Plastic Soup Foundation can help you easily identify which products on store shelves today still contain microplastics!
Get the Plastic Soup Foundation’s Beat the Microbead App
Going Even Greener
While choosing a toothpaste without plastic microbeads is definitely an eco-friendly move, many still come in plastic tubes that are difficult to recycle and contain even more… yup, plastic!
So, what is the greenest option when it comes to toothpaste? Go tube-free! Toothpaste now comes all kinds of more eco-friendly forms, like bits and powders that foam up once they get wet. Making homemade toothpast is another option that is becoming more and more popular. You can find all kinds of how-to’s online.
Related Posts:
Hidden sources of microplastics from our homes
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https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/spaces/create-a-wildlife-garden.htm
https://www.nwf.org/communitywildlifehabitat
Go Wild for Rewilding! 6 Steps to Create a Wildlife-Friendly Yard
Explore and Learn More:
National Wildlife Federation’s Garden for Wildlife program guide. Find out how to certify your habitat to help wildlife!
Check out this activity: Let it Grow! | The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Guide: Creating Pollinator Nesting Boxes to Help Native Bees | University of Georgia
**SIGNATURE POST??? Later after established
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Each of us has our own personal impact on the environment– it involves the resources and products we choose to buy and use, the foods we eat, and the things we throw away. It also includes the things we might be doing that affect the natural world.
“Eco-awakening”
Things we can actively stop doing that immediately have a positive impact on the natural world and our environment – avoiding single-use plastics, pesticides, recycling, etc
Then there are things we can do proactively to help our environment – cleaning up litter, rewilding, pollinator garden, etc
Related Posts:
Ecological footprint calculator
Quick start guide to going greener
Add meta and pic — Change number?? Change tags?
Deforestation- define
Beef
Soy
Palm
Wood
Read for reference:
https://ourworldindata.org/deforestation
https://www.conservation.org/stories/11-deforestation-facts-you-need-to-know
4 Foods That Are Eating the World’s Forests And How to Choose Better
WWF Resources on Deforestation/forest conversion
Add meta and picture!! Category – Environment or Conservation? CHANGE?
Background and resources: https://www.ecowatch.com/earth-environmental-protection-area-2653038802.html **Same as WEForum article below
Living Planet Report
Protected Planet Report — quote stats from here on protected areas https://livereport.protectedplanet.net/
Nature Compact – 30 x 30
Environmental organization list:
Explore and Learn More:
How much of Earth is currently protected? | World Economic Forum
More Nature | Environment America
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Add basic timeline of single use plastics?
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/plastics-explained
Pic, meta, tags
Add video??
Summarize ket takeaways, then point to link
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/global-warming-101#tackle
Add pic and meta!!
https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/protect-water-and-land/land-and-water-stories/invasive-plant-species-invasive-species-education-1/
Butterfly bush!!
**Add pic and meta**
There are so many different things we can do in our day-to-day lives to help reduce our personal environmental impact. One of them is taking the time to choose Earth-friendly products to use in our homes.
Keeping the environment in mind isn’t just about looking for non-toxic, biodegradable ingredients anymore. It’s about how the products are made, where their ingredients come from, their carbon footprint, and the sustainability of their packaging.
***Below is cut and pasted from other post*** Incorporate wording
With growing awareness and concern over toxic ingredients and pollution of waterways and aquatic ecosystems, many people have made the switch to cleaner and greener household products. And as demand increases, the selection of more natural, Earth-friendly product options found on store shelves keeps on growing.
While this shift has no doubt been a huge step in the right direction when it comes to reducing our impact on our environment, rising concerns over plastic pollution and reducing waste has fueled the development of a whole new generation of products that take the definition of Earth-friendly to a whole new level: They are low-waste, concentrated, and completely plastic-free.
But finding products to clean your dishes, house, and laundry… that aren’t packaged in plastic? While you might not find them at your local chain grocery store (at least not yet), but there are all kinds of great options out there!
Aside from the obvious fact that they help reduce our overall use of plastic (See Related Post: **Plastic Footprint** ), many of these products have other environmentally-friendly features, too:
This growing awareness has helped to raise the bar on sustainable product manufacturing and—- change!! brought about a new wave of products that are now on the market.
*****GOOD BELOW!
Here are some of the basic features to look for when it comes to buying the most Earth-friendly household products:
Plastic-free
No disposable, non-recyclable parts such as sprayers, pumps, and scoops
Concentrated form
Not sold with water already mixed-in
Biodegradable ingredients
Packaging that is reusable, compostable, or easily recyclable
In many areas, these kinds of products have not made an appearance yet. But online stores such as EarthHero — suggest others?
Related posts:
Plastic Footprint
*Add pic, tags, meta– change title??
Add pic and meta
https://slate.com/technology/2021/04/home-solar-power-costs-benefits.html
https://www.usgbc.org/articles/top-four-benefits-installing-solar-panels-your-home
Show projects in other countries/features – or create separate post??
For reference: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/renewable-energy-clean-facts
Tips for getting the most from rooftop solar:
Size system based on usage
Use most electricity during day? check specifics
Continue to reduce energy use as much as possible- If might be tempting to not be as careful about energy use if you are using solar energy, but in fact, the amount of energy we use still matters? Less energy used -> more sent to grid
**Add meta description!** Focus of this post: Trends in the U.S.
Separate article? Trends in clean energy around the world: Largest solar & wind farms
For reference: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/renewable-energy-clean-facts
In the U.S., renewable energy has been on the rise. According to —-
Learn all about clean energy trends in the U.S. over the last two decades in this interactive report by Environment America.
https://environmentamerica.org/feature/ame/renewables-rise-2020
“Here comes the Sun!”
Find out where solar energy currently stands in each state using this interactive map from the Solar Energy Industries Association:
https://www.seia.org/states-map
Explore and learn more:
Find a neutral source on renewable energy?
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Start with explaining upcycling
https://www.sustainablejungle.com/sustainable-fashion/recycled-upcycled-clothing/#item-9
Jewelry
Household goods – baskets, linens
Accessories
Clothing
Add pic!! **Change title??** Teaching kids to take care of their environment??
Turn off lights. Save paper. Don’t litter. These are all things kids hear a lot these days.
Teaching kids to conserve resources and reduce waste is surely a very important thing to do. ****But for them to really get it – and really care – it helps for them to see the bigger picture so they can really understand how doing these kinds of things helps to protect our planet. ****
https://www.treehugger.com/award-winning-environmental-education-curriculum-now-available-free-online-4854864
Related posts: 20 Easy things kids can do to help the environment
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Summarize NRDC article below and then link:
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/air-pollution-everything-you-need-know
Related Posts: (move to bottom)
Home tips for protecting water resources- right title? CHECK
Check video again– remove? Too opinion or controversial?
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Gardening for pollinators can be a fun, educational, and rewarding experience. Once the first blooms of the year begin to open, the bees, butterflies, and other insects that depend on them soon follow. Having our own pollinator garden is such a great way to help pollinators and learn about them first-hand.
Notes: Including Different bloom times spring-fall. But did you know that even once the flowers are no longer blooming and it might seem like all those little visitors have moved on for the season, many are still around! They might not be out looking for nectar and pollen over the fall and winter, but they do still need places to rest over the colder months. Look up– edit science – eggs
Related Posts:
Explore and Learn More:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Winterize your Pollinator Garden
Many of the actions we often hear about when it comes to reducing our impact on the environment will fall under one of these 3 categories:
Conserving Resources
Reducing Pollution
Minimizing Waste
The Think Earth Foundation offers a great Home Survey to help families assess some areas where they could make small changes to reduce their environmental footprint- while often saving money at the same time! It does take a few minutes to complete, but it really does help to get people thinking. Once answers are submitted, a list of helpful suggestions is provided based on individual responses.
Related Posts:
**Environmental Footprint
**What does Earth Overshoot Day really mean? **Add
Explore and Learn More:
Take the Think Earth Foundation Home Survey
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**Add pic and meta**
https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2019.00084
**Add pic, tags, meta**
My quote- We may live very differently…
One thing is very clear: We depend on the natural world to survive!
Check for more details:
Water
Soil health
Materials for buildings, products
Food – pollination
Seed dispersal
Medicines
Climate regulation
Health – spending time outdoors, exercise, mental wellbeing, connection, clear mind — add wording from my post about being in nature! “Time spend amongst trees–”
And yet, even while we know all of this, natural areas continue to be lost to urban sprawl and other construction projects in many areas. In recent years, the concept of “rewilding” has been gaining more attention (UN goal & Rewilding website/project) **Link to Protected Planet website
And while this may seem like a huge task that is largely out of our control, there are many things we can do!
**Add pic and meta**
Types of materials
Just like anything we buy, the materials have to come from somewhere – the fewer new things we buy, the fewer resources are used, less pollution is created, and less ends up being wasted somewhere down the road.
Fast fashion
Clothes can be a challenge to recycle – much of what is donated ends up being thrown away!
Here’s the first key to remember: The most sustainable clothes are the ones that are already in your closet! Many people have so much in their closet these days that they forget what they even own. Often, just going “shopping” in our own closets we can discover entire new outfits and combinations that we didn’t realize we even had. So when we feel like we need something new to wear, a great place to start is at home.
Have a favorite item of clothing that has a small hole, broken zipper, or needs hemming/adjusting? Instead of
When you do find yourself needing something new in your closet:
-Try to find something that is “pre-loved” -Often saving a lot of money, finding unique pieces Even if money isn’t an issue… consider doing this for our planet’s sake
-Host or attend a clothing swap!
-Buy quality pieces, ethically and sustainably made – avoid fast fashion or pieces you know will quickly lose their shape or appeal.
– Need something for a special occasion that you know you will likely only need once? -Borrow, rent
What to do with clothes that you don’t need anymore?
If it’s in good shape, why not try to find another home for it?
-Consignment
-Clothes swap
-Donate
What about the old T-shirt that has a big hole or spot in it?
-Here’s an idea: Cut it into pieces and turn it into cleaning rags! Then you won’t have to buy cleaning rags as often.
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We can take steps to reduce plastic use and food waste, make efforts to conserve resources by reusing things and buying less. We can recycle, grow a garden, and compost. These are all amazing things
But it turns out that there is one single thing that many large-scale studies conducted over the last several years have been coming to the same conclusion: One of the single biggest ways an individual can cut their carbon footprint: reduce meat intake and shift to a more plant-based diet. In fact, to put things even more in perspective, these studies have shown that a shift to a more plant-based diet is going to have to happen ——
Many may wonder how this can be the case if our hunter-gatherer ancestors clearly ate meat as part of their diets. While this is definitely true, things have definitely changed since those days. A lot. Back 10,000 years ago, the human— . Even just 200 years ago —-. Today, we are fast approaching —. One-third of the Earth’s surface is already used for animal agriculture, whether it be for raising the animals themselves or growing crops to feed them. (Source)
**Go into environmental impacts:
https://www.sierraclub.org/pennsylvania/blog/2020/12/why-i-eat-plant-based-diet
Explore and Learn More:
Plant-Rich Diets | Project Drawdown
**Add meta and pics***
Clogged drain
Pests- essential oils
**Add pic and meta**
First define recycling, then wishcycling
Importance of conserving resources, just wasted when thrown away!
Step 1: Do a waste assessment
Questions to ask: Are there excess single-use plastics and other disposables that could be avoided with reusable?
How can I start composting? Yard, pick up service, etc
Find out what your company collects
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According to the experts:
**Pic and meta**
Old article– use some info?? https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/species.html
Explore and Learn More:
ICUN Red List
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When we really stop to think about it, the concept of garbage and what we do with it really is… well, absurd!
Take things from the Earth—mining, deforestation, drilling- turn them into things, use them for a little while, and then throw them away! Wasting all resources that went into
Eliminating disposables
Reducing unnecessary packaging- rise of package-free grocery stores,
Transforming packaging at the source
Movement towards a circular economy
Related posts:
**Circular economy, composting, recycling, Rs of sustainability
Add pics and meta, tags **Change number??
https://rubbishfree.co.nz/welcome/how-we-live-with-almost-no-rubbish-at-all/
zero waste home
https://treadingmyownpath.com/explore/minimalism-simple-living/ and main site
https://myplasticfreelife.com/plasticfreeguide/
http://www.wastelesspantry.com.au/blog/
Clean Bin Project: https://youtu.be/ADPPl_oMWYo
**Add pic, meta, tags**
https://zerowastehome.com/tips/
Add tags, meta, and pic
What if everyone helped picked up litter* when they saw it? How much would end up washing down drains, entering waterways, and finding its way into the ocean? What wildlife might we be protecting from injury or death?
Everyday litter picking is actually a growing trend!
There’s even a new buzzword for those who combine an exercise run with picking up litter along the way… it’s called plogging!
Plogging–
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2018/02/23/plogging-is-the-swedish-fitness-craze-for-people-who-want-to-save-the-planet-its-making-its-way-to-the-u-s/
Cleanswell
Cleanup Days events
*When cleaning up litter, always take proper steps to ensure safety.
**Add tags, pic, meta**
Food
packaging Waste
Stuff
Fast fashion
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/reduce-reuse-recycle-most-all-reduce
https://www.wessexwater.co.uk/community/blog/14-ways-to-live-a-more-sustainable-lifestyle
We hear about forests being cut down all around our planet, and the garbage piling up in the oceans. We are experiencing changes in our climate, and
It’s no secret
The little things each of us do in our daily lives can really do add up to have an impact on our planet… But we all have an important choice to make when it comes to our personal environmental footprints: Do we want the things we do to be part ocontribute to the problems, or be part of the solution
-Say good-bye to single-use plastics
-Opt for reusables! **List
-Reduce food waste
-Compost
-Repair items if you can
-Recycle right
-Resell or donate things that are in good condition that you don’t need
***Reducing is the most important key!!
-Packaging
-Pay attention to labels- palm oil, non-GMO,
-Buy second-hand– furniture, toys, clothes
-Use less toxic chemicals– wash down the drain into local waterways
Food choices matter when it comes to our planet
-Be aware of the carbon footprint of your food
-Grow a backyard garden
-Shop at farmer’s markets
-Support regenerative agriculture practices when you can- organic, grass fed, free-range
-Be energy conscious- Energy efficient appliances, turning things off/unplugging when not in use, support RECs, go solar!
-Cut pack on paper use- mailing lists, print on both sides, paperless receipts/bills, 100% recycled paper… recycle what you don’t need!
-Use water wisely- Take shorter showers, Turn off the water when brushing teeth, water-saving settings on applicances
-Carpool, public transport, bicycle, walk when you can. **alternative transportation when you can… Electric car
-Paper products – 100% recycled paper, alternative fibers, bidet attachments on toilets!
-Plant some wildflowers to help pollinators
-Use native trees and plants in landscaping– creating habitats
-Reduce or eliminate pesticides
-Help the birds
-Welcome biodiversity!
-Be part of the un-lawn movement
-Participate in cleanup events, environmental awareness/action events, community science programs
-Join and support the organizations that exist to protect our planet
-Help get the word out! Talk to family, friends, restaurants, and local businesses to
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Floss picks, lint brush, paper towels, wipes, single-use items
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*Embrace nature and do what we can to promote and protect biodiversity*
*Challenges ourselves to reduce what we waste and throw away*
*Learn to become Earth-conscious consumers and choose products that are kinder to our planet*
*Be conscious of our personal impact on the environment in the little choices we make each day*
*Remind ourselves that we are connected to all living things that share our Earth home*
*Recognize that the little things we each do to help reduce our own footprints can add up to make a big difference*
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First celebrated in the U.S. on April 22, 1970, Earth Day has grown to become an internationally recognized event to raise awareness about environmental issues and the importance of protecting our planet.
Even though it only appears on the calendar once a year in April, Earth Day helps to remind us of the little things we can do in our everyday lives to reduce our footprint and the importance of protecting the environment we all share.
Here are some things we can do to celebrate Earth Day – not just today, but every day!
It might seem like a challenge at first… but saying “good-bye” to single-use plastics can be easier than we might think!
This clever little video produced by UN Environment for their Clean Seas campaign highlights the importance of “breaking up” with single-use plastics and making the switch to reusables instead.
To find out more about the UN Environment Programme’s Clean Seas campaign, visit www.cleanseas.org
Explore and Learn More:
6 Eco-friendly, on-the-go essentials
8 Shopping tips to help reduce plastic waste
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NRDC- Heat pump water heater
Swedish dishcloths
Founded in 1964, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened and Endangered Species has become the most comprehensive inventory of the conservation status of plants and animals in the world.
Facts on biodiversity loss–
Environmental impacts–
Learn more about the IUCN Red List here:
This incredible database of information is often used by governments, organizations, scientists, zoos, teachers, students, media, and businesses.
But it can also be a educational and eye-opening tool for individuals who would like to learn more about how various environmental impacts are affecting specific animals and plants around the world.
You can explore this incredible resource here: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
We see images of sea animals injured by it. We find it floating in the water, and washed up on beaches. We hear about it collecting in certain parts of the ocean, forming what we call “garbage patches”. Our trash… mainly plastic… is taking over the oceans.
It is estimated that 8 million metric tons of plastic are being added to our oceans each year. And it has been predicted that if current trends continue, there could be more plastic than fish (by weight) in the oceans by the year 2050.
For over 30 years, The Ocean Conservancy has been working to help protect our Earth’s oceans and marine life by bringing together organizations and volunteers from around the world for the International Coastal Cleanup. What started in 1986 as a small cleanup event in Texas has now grown to a globally recognized volunteer effort involving hundreds of thousands of volunteers from over 100 countries, all coming together over one weekend in September to join hands in an effort to improve ocean health.
The results from the 2019 International Coastal Cleanup, which are shown below in their 2020 Report. In the last few year
Here are some things you can do:
1. Reduce (or eliminate) single-use plastics from your life!
Help eliminate the source of the problem and avoid single-use plastics like plastic bags, straws, cups, food containers whenever possible. There are also ways to minimize plastics from food packaging, too. (See Related Posts below)
2. Download The Ocean Conservancy’s CleanSwell app
Do live near a coastline or enjoy visiting the beach, and want to get involved in clean up efforts? You can use the CleanSwell app year-round to log the different types of trash that you find, along with where and when you find them. This information can them be used by scientists in their studies of marine litter to help understand patterns in marine pollution.
3. Participate in the International Coastal Cleanup in September– link to information
4. Organize your own beach cleanup event!
5. Help to spread the word about ocean pollution and get involved in plastic-free campaigns
Join The Ocean Conservancy in their efforts and Pledge to Skip the Straw
**other skip the straw campaign– leaving **
Explore and Learn More:
The Ocean Conservancy:
Fighting for Trash Free Seas: Plastic in the Ocean
***Clean Swell App
***ICC Beach cleanup info– other beach cleanup directory??
March 18th is Global Recycling Day!
Created in 2018, the mission of Global Recycling Day is to raise awareness about the important role that recycling plays in conserving our planet’s natural resources.
“Every year, the Earth yields billions of tons of natural resources and at some point, in the not too distant future, it will run out….That’s why we must think again about what we throw away – seeing not waste, but opportunity.” -Global Recycling Foundation
Learn more at www.globalrecyclingfoundation.org
Eating locally grown produce not only has many health benefits– it can be better for our environment in lots of ways, too!
https://bestselfatlanta.com/at-the-farmers-market/
Localharvest.org search
https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/44/eabd0288
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International Coastal Cleanup
Clean Swell App
These days, we hear a lot about cutting back on single-use plastics and the eco-friendly habit of using reusable bags and water bottles throughout the day. But this growing movement to help reduce waste has now expanded to include food containers too. It’s known as BYOC: Bring Your Own Container!
Check out the Launch Video for Zero Waste Singapore’s new BYOC campaign from December 2020!
The BYOC movement doesn’t just apply for take-out food and leftovers… it has been a growing trend in grocery shopping too!
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This powerful video by the UN Environment Programme premiered on February 22, 2021. It sends an important and urgent message to us all!
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This powerful video was created by the UN Environment Programme back in 2015, but its message is more urgent and meaningful today than ever before as the human population nears 8 billion.
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Recycling program
Composting service or on property
Pollinator garden
Fruit and vegetable garden
Outdoor classrooms
Environmental education
In this powerful 8-minute visual journey, world renowned natural historian Sir David Attenborough gives us an eye-opening account of how humans have fallen out of balance from the rest of the natural world, and shares his vision for how we can learn to change the way live and work together towards a more sustainable future on Earth.
If this short film leaves you inspired and wanting to learn more, watch the trailer for Sir David Attenborough’s full length documentary, A Life on Our Planet, along with other must-see environmental documentaries in a related post:
These environmental documentaries can help to open our eyes
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Founded in 2011 by the conservation group Polar Bears International, this day helps to raise awareness about these incredible animals and how they are being affected by melting sea ice due to climate change. It is celebrated each year on February 27th.
To learn more about how Polar Bears International is working to protect polar bears and how people can get involved, visit:
https://polarbearsinternational.org/get-involved/international-polar-bear-day