Ways to Be Less Wasteful and Save the Planet

Everyone has a responsibility to the environment. We all live on planet Earth, and we are all contributing in our own ways to its destruction. Some people, such as unethical business leaders and politicians, have a considerably greater impact, but even individuals and small households are doing some damage too.

One of the biggest ways we all harm the environment is through waste. Single-use plastic is finding its way into the oceans and soil all around the world, leading to dire consequences for many species and ecosystems. We waste water, electricity, and gas at home without thinking about the repercussions for global warming, and the amount of perfectly good food that gets thrown away is unthinkable. It’s estimated that the average person in the US wastes around 95.1 kilograms of food each year.

By reducing the amount of waste generated by your household, you could make a huge difference to the planet, and its habitability for future generations. And you can achieve us through some minor changes that will actually improve your life in other ways. Being more conversative with your food and fuel will not only benefit the environment, but it will also save you a great deal of money too.

So to get you started on your journey, here are three ways to be less wasteful.

Conserve food

If you find yourself scraping half-eaten meals into the bin or chucking out moldy fruit that’s been sitting in the fridge for weeks, you can do better. There are people starving out there, and you are squandering perfectly edible food. The easiest way to reduce food waste is to buy less. To achieve this, you can plan out your weekly meals and compile a shopping list so that you only buy what you need. Store items properly, whether it’s in the fridge or in a sealed Tupperware container, and do your best to eat everything before it goes off. Don’t worry too much about best-before dates, as these are just a general guideline and can lead to you throwing out food while it’s still good to eat. It’s better to use the smell test instead. 

Avoid single-use plastic

Shop-bought bottles of water or takeaway drinks with plastic cups and drinking straws are some of the main offenders when it comes to plastic waste. And most of the time, this single-use plastic is simply unnecessary. If you are the type of person who likes a takeaway coffee, just your own reusable mug and have the barista fill it up. Many coffee shops offer a discounted price for customers that bring their own receptacles. Buy a water bottle and keep it filled up rather than purchasing bottles from the store. 

Fix broken items

We used to live in a time when people would fix their broken items, whether it was their car, appliances, or shoes. But nowadays people often throw things out when they see a flaw, and replace them with a newer model. But frequently these are things that can be easily mended, whether by yourself, or a professional service like Fast-Fix. If you have a broken bra strap or a faulty toaster, don’t be so hasty to chuck it in the bin. Find a YouTube video online and see if you can repair the damage yourself.