The amount of trash we all accumulate over a short period of time is pretty astounding. We have come into an age of single use, throw away if its slightly broken, and overconsumption.
This takes a BIG tax on our earth – and threatens our ability to survive here as a species. Yes, look it up. IT DOES.
Some scientists are saying it’s already too late – we’ve done too much damage which is irreversible – our earth is paying the consequences – and we are beginning to feel those consequences ourselves.
Which could be true .. but
There are many people ( still not enough ) who are actively making changes.
Just as we were all taught ( hopefully ) to clean up our room when we were young – we REALLY need to bring this concept into the bigger picture and clean up our act and planet – because we are trashing it; and sadly many don’t even realize it yet.
So what do we do?
Increase your awareness around what you are buying, how often, and how it will end up back in the earth and the natural cycle.
A good example – buying produce at a grocery store ( not in plastic packaging ), using a reusable bag, any scraps like the peel of a banana then getting put into a compost bin, those scraps being made into compost, then that compost being spread into a garden that grows more food.
The bad example we see too often – single use utensils, cups, plates, napkins, cans, water bottles, plastic toothbrushes, plastic shampoo or lotion bottles – getting tossed in the trash ( or not ), ending up either on the side of the road, on the street making its way to a storm drain and into the ocean, or at least to a landfill where those plastic and man made materials take THOUSANDS of years to break down back into the earth.
I live in Southern California and there are signs at the beach that tell us to not go into the ocean because the water is contaminated with sewage and chemicals.
Yeah – NOT GOOD
My partner and I fill up an entire standard recycle bin every 2 – 3 MONTHS. Our standard trash bin – it gets dumped before it is full – but a guess would be it would take 5 – 6 months for us to fill that. We have very little trash.
How quickly do you fill your bin? What are you putting in there? Can you reduce the amount you put in there?
21 Ways to Reduce Your Trash
Many of these are because we shop at a refill store where we bring in our own bottles and get them refilled, or we have a grocery store that has bulk bin items. Find those near you – or ask your grocery store to offer it.
- Refillable toothpaste
- Bamboo Toothbrushes
- Deodarant in biodegradable containers
- DIY creams & lotions – or refill store
- Menstrual cups instead of pads and tampons
- Wooden hair brushes
- Handmade soaps not in packages
- Natural sea sponge for luffas
- Body soap – refill store
- Metal refillable razor
- Dish soap – glass reusable pump bottle and refill store
- Dishwasher powder – refill store
- Glass reusable cleaning bottles
- DIY cleaning sprays with essential oils
- Wooden dish scrubbers
- Pantry dry goods – bulk bins at grocery store ( herbs + spices too )
- Reusable bags for dry goods
- Glass Tupperware containers
- DIY plant milks instead of waxy cartons
- Refill / Bulk bins for Kombucha, Honey, ACV, Maple syrup etc
- DIY Peanut butter – or grinding machines at your grocery store
If you need a little more explanation about any of these or need a visual watch my Youtube video where I show you each item in my home.
Thank you for doing your part!
Intentional Living with Jody 