There are countless reasons why someone would want to reduce waste and adopt more eco-friendly habits, but it can be difficult to know where to start. For example, stomach-churning photos of overflowing landfills or the Great Pacific Garbage Patch might overwhelm people due to the sheer magnitude of the problem.
Furthermore, budgetary concerns can feel like a barrier to individuals who want to live a less wasteful lifestyle. A quick search online about zero waste or low waste habits reveals hundreds of blogs promoting new eco-friendly products, composting advice, and sustainable ways to replace single-use plastics — all of which cost money.
However, reducing waste should actually help you save your hard-earned dollars in the long run, and there are plenty of ways to reduce your carbon footprint without draining your savings account. Here are 5 simple ways you can go green without spending a single penny:
1. Conduct a waste audit.
Even if you’re trying to be more conscious of your trash production, it can be easy to overlook how much stuff you throw away. A waste audit can be an eye-opening (albeit a little gross) way to see how much waste you’re really generating and how you can begin to make greener choices in the future. With a closer look at some of your products, for instance, you might learn that you’ve been throwing away items that could have been recycled!
As you reflect on the state of your trash bin, ask yourself these 3 questions about each item to brainstorm ways to reduce excess waste:
- Is it a single-use item?
- Where did it come from, and what will happen to it once I’m done using it?
- Who produced it, and what conditions was it manufactured in?
These simple queries should help you reevaluate the value of your possessions, appreciate products made ethically and sustainably, and think twice before throwing things away that could be repurposed or reused.
2. Try cold composting.
If you noticed a lot of food scraps in your bin during your trash audit, you’re not alone. According to the EPA, food waste makes up approximately 20% of the total waste sent to landfills every year or about 41 million tons of food waste.
The main problem with food rotting in landfills is that the decomposing scraps produce methane gas, which is a major contributor to climate change. Bacteria from rotting food can also cause environmental crises by contaminating water sources. Instead of tossing food waste into the trash, you can use the simple process of cold composting to reduce waste and produce nutrient-rich soil.
According to Oregon State University, the method of “cold composting” is aptly named because the decomposing materials cause no heat reactions. All you need to do is alternate layers of green or nitrogen-rich material with layers of brown or carbon-rich materials. For instance, coffee grounds are an excellent nitrogen source, whereas shredded paper and dry leaves are high in carbon.
3. Go paperless.
Today, it’s possible to pay your bills, do your taxes, and even get event tickets without having to use a single piece of paper. Whenever possible, opt for paperless billing options and save hard copies of your documents or receipts to a hard drive instead of printing them out.
When you need to use paper, try to use paper made from recycled materials, and dispose of it properly when you’re done. In the workplace, simply changing your printer settings to print documents double-sided can help you cut down on paper usage, too!
4. Conserve electricity.
The average household can have dozens of electricity-sucking devices and appliances that continue to use energy even when they’re turned off or in “standby” mode. According to a 2018 report, “An appliance that constantly draws one watt of electricity can cost up to $1 per year, and since many energy vampires use more electricity than that, annual costs can add up to $100 to $200 in the average home.”
Simply unplugging devices you don’t use every day, such as your printer or microwave, can help you save on electricity. Unplugging unused phone chargers, turning off your laptop, and turning off all unnecessary lights in your home are simple ways to conserve electricity and possibly reduce your electric bill. Another great way to reduce your energy consumption is to lower your water heater by a few degrees. In the workplace, you can also suggest turning off printers, scanners, and other electronic devices at the end of the workday, or whenever they’re not in use.
5. Participate in community recycling programs.
Don’t know what recycling programs your city has to offer? Earth 911 is the resource you’ve been looking for! This well-organized site is one of the most extensive recycling databases in North America, with specific instructions for properly disposing of over 350 materials in over 100,000 locations.
To find out how to recycle your old electronics, paints, batteries, or other items, just go to Earth 911, type in the material you’d like to recycle and enter your zip code. If you can’t locate an area near you using this database, you can contact your city government or browse the information listed on How2Recycle to see if there are any lesser-known recycling programs in your community.
