Are you one of those people who hang their head in shame when it comes to recycling? You know you should do it, but you have never really taken the time to get started.
Well you will be happy to know that it doesn't take a lot of planning and preparation to start recycling.
You can start small and still feel good about doing your part to protect the environment.
So what does it mean to start small with recycling? Well, look around.
Are there little things that you can do each day to help cut down on landfill waste.
No more water bottles.
You see them everywhere, plastic water bottles.
Do you really need a new bottle every time you get a drink of water? No.
You can purchase an aluminum water bottle that will help keep your water cold and you won't be adding to the plastic waste in the world.
If you are concerned about the purity of the water you drink, get a home water purifier.
You can pick up a filtering pitcher like the ones made by Brita, or buy a faucet mount filter.
Either way, you can filter your own home tap water and put it in a reusable bottle.
Just think about how much you have saved in plastic bottle waste and the money you spend on them! Reusable grocery bags.
These canvas or nylon sacks are becoming more and more popular all the time.
You see them for sale at the checkout counter of most grocery stores.
You purchase the bag and then bring it back to the store each time you shop.
No more plastic grocery bags cluttering up your pantry and the landfills.
These are just two ways that you can help cut the plastic waste that goes to our landfills each day.
In addition to helping the environment by cutting back on waste, you can also help by not being wasteful with our precious resources.
Turn of the lights when you leave a room.
There is no reason to have a light on if no one is in there to use it right? So why do so many homes look like they are completely lit up every night? Leave a few lights on for safety and home security, but limit how many you turn on.
Replace your regular bulbs with energy efficient bulbs.
They use less energy and last longer than a typical light bulb.
You will be saving money and energy by using compact fluorescent bulbs.
In addition to changing your bulbs, consider putting your lights on a timer.
They will go on at dark and turn of a few hours later.
This will give you peace of mind when you are away from home, but the lights won't use excess energy.
Cut back on your driving.
Cars are a huge source of pollution and you can do your part by cutting down on unnecessary driving.
Ride your bike, walk or use public transportation.
You may find your commute is more enjoyable when you let someone else do the driving.
Recycling is not an all or nothing process.
Everyone can do their part no matter how big or small.
As you start out you may find other ways to cut back on waste and save energy.
Recycling is the way of the future if we want our planet to be healthy!