Eco-Friendly New Year's

All over the world, it has become an annual tradition for people to make New Year’s resolutions. While some people are able to stick to them, others may find the process a little overwhelming because they try to make too many changes at once. However, it is far easier to make eco-friendly resolutions than traditional ones that usually involve the abstinence of alcohol or starting a new diet.

1. Reduce

Many people own far more pairs of shoes and clothing items than they will be able to wear in 2 lifetimes, and a large percentage of these items languish in the back of our closets. This is especially true for children, as many parents purchase an item because “it’s so cute” or “it was on sale.” The next time you pick something up off the store shelf, stop and ask yourself if you truly need it or if it is merely something that would be nice to have.

2. Reuse

These days, we live in what is considered to be a disposable society. For example, the moment we encounter a spill on a countertop, we immediately reach for the paper towels. However, a reusable cloth will perform the cleanup task just as well, and it will save money in the long term, as it can be used multiple times before being discarded.

3. Recycle

Most people purchase items that are packaged in recyclable material such as paper, glass and specific types of plastic. If each household took the time to separate its recyclable items from the rest of the trash, it would save a substantial amount of it from going to the landfill. For example, a glass item can be reused dozens of times – unless it breaks, of course. If this happens, it can still be recycled and made into another glass item.

4. Repurpose

In many cases, people think that an item can only be used for its intended purpose. While this may be true when it comes to electronic gadgets and prescription medication, many other items can be used for a myriad of purposes. A perfect example is a pickle jar. Once you have used the pickles, the jar can be washed out and then used to store stationery, buttons or other small items. This will save you from purchasing a specific storage container for these items. Worn clothing items can be used as cleaning cloths and unwanted denim items can be used to make other things.

5. Grow your own Food

Many people don’t see growing food as being eco-friendly. However, if you have fruit and vegetables growing in your yard, you will save a substantial amount of time as well as money. Instead of getting into the car and driving to the store, all you need to do is step outside and pick what you need. You will also eliminate the stress of standing in line at the store and having to navigate through traffic. Although it may seem overwhelming to adopt all of these changes at once, you can still make a difference to the environment if you decide to implement one change at a time. After a short while, you will eagerly seek more and more ways to be eco-friendly. Image Source: Flickr/Creative Commons/Paul Wilkinson