By Glenda Wise
Since I have been on the minimalist thing for about two and a half months, I thought I would dig a little deeper into that area and research ways to go a little greener in this new phase of life. Yes, cutting down on the needless buying is a start, but I have many other areas that need work when it comes to cutting down my carbon footprint. After I started researching, I realized that a lot of these things are actually things I grew up doing. My parents were very frugal and not wasteful at all. We had a garden, cows and, frankly, didn’t have the extra money to spend on needless items. Here are a few ways we can all cut down our carbon footprints and go a little greener:
1. Recycle electronics. For me this is a tough one since the disposable electronics are relatively new for me, since I didn’t grow up with electronics the way they are today. Look, I grew up in a house that you didn’t get a new TV until the old one absolutely quit. E-waste has become a great issue as toxins from devices such as old cell phones, TVs, laptops, and so on can seep into the earth if disposed of improperly. Many retailers offer disposal services and some even give you points for store credit for recycling with them.
2. Have you ever heard of disposable fashion? This is fashion that is just what the name implies, disposable. Stores such as Forever 21 and Old Navy offering clothing for just a few dollars have helped aid the growth in disposable fashion. People don’t have that much money invested in it; therefore, it is easier for them to throw it away when they tire of it. Hence, my little problem I was having with buying too much stuff. There are lots of great resell sites like Poshmark that you can use to sell your clothes or use to purchase new-to-you clothes. Grayson uses this site for both buying and selling. She has had very good luck with both sides of the transaction. A great thing about Poshmark is they will send you a downloadable mailing label with the postage. All you have to do is box the item up, put the label on it and drop it off at the post office.
3. Invest in a few good reusable shopping bags. I have both insulated and regular shopping totes. I am a big Aldi shopper and if you’ve ever been there, you know that they don’t give you shopping bags. It’s a great way to get into the habit of using them. Honestly, I think it is easier to tote the groceries inside with them than 500 plastic bags. I will have to admit that on occasion I still get plastic bags so I can use them for the litterbox and to take with us when we walk the dogs. I feel like this is still helping recycle, since I am not purchasing separate doggie disposal bags.
4. Cut down on food waste. Try to plan your menu around a few of the same items. Throw your vegetable and fruit peels outside for the birds to enjoy.
Get creative and find one or two ways you can cut down useless waste. Besides saving money, you’ll also be helping to save the planet.