Reducing Consumption: Daily Strategies
How can we make daily choices to preserve our natural resources? We asked Squad friend Lara Hansen, chief scientist and executive director of EcoAdapt (www.ecoadapt.org), for some advice on practical things we can do every day to reduce our consumption. Here's what she shared:
1. Stop using disposable cups. Disposable cups are not recyclable and Americans use way too much of this landfill fodder. I'm challenging friends and family to not buy coffee or tea in a single-use cup for 2018. If you choose to buy a beverage while you're out, you can bring your own cup.
2. Stop using a garbage disposal. Did you know that our very limited freshwater already has too much nutrient pollution in it? Every time you use the garbage disposal, you are making a solid waste problem a liquid waste problem. Instead of using the garbage disposal, put the same waste into the green waste bin you put on your curb. Most municipalities accept household compost in these bins, including not only vegetable waste but also meat, dairy, and oily pizza boxes that cannot go in your recycling. **In DC, you can recycle pizza boxes only if they are completely free of organic matter.
3. Leave the lid on! Keep the lid screwed on tight when you recycle plastic bottles. It's the only way the lid plastic can make it through the recycling process.
4. Leave your house without getting into your car. Chances are when you walk out the door of your home, the first place you go is in the door of your car. This is not good for you, your community, or the planet. Think about ways to get where you are going without a personal car. You'll get to be outside. You'll get to meet your neighbors. You'll get more exercise. You'll save money. You'll protect local waterways and land. You'll protect the atmosphere.
Walk. Bike. Use public transit. They are all great!
If you don't think you can carry what you need when you walk, bike, or use public transit, consider investing in one of these cheap additions to your non-motorized transit tools:
5. Don't idle. Leaving a car at idle while you wait for someone or run back into your house is bad for air quality and the atmosphere. Turn off your car.
6. Use your water wisely. Waiting for warm water from a tap? Collect the cold water that is just running down the drain in a bucket instead. You can use this water to flush your toilet. If you've never done this, there are (of course!) many helpful websites: https://wtop.com/news/2013/07/water-shut-off-heres-how-to-flush-your-toilet/
7. Don't use disposable utensils. You've got heaps of other stuff in your bag, why not carry the Spork?
http://www.lightmyfire.com/products/products/spork/spork-original.aspx
8. Forego the plastic straw! Out in Seattle, they've banned plastic straws and are encouraging those who must use straws to get paper straws that can be composted. If you really need a straw, get a reusable metal straw. They're super cool looking and they can be used for the rest of your life.
9. Order takeout in your own containers. You bring a cup to get your latte and reusable bags to buy your groceries, but did you know you can bring your own containers to your favorite takeout place and have them use those for your delicacies?
10. Don't bag your veggies at the grocery store! Your vegetables grew outside in the dirt, unprotected from seed to harvest.
11. BYOC: Bring Your Own Container. Buying bulk at the grocery store? Bring your own containers to fill. Weigh the container before you fill it and the store will reduce the price to accommodate the extra weight.
12. Frisbee plate! My officemate in grad school carried a frisbee to the dining hall everyday and used it to eat his lunch. Then he washed it off and played frisbee on the way back to the lab. Win-win!
13. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, in that order.
Reduce: Don't get what you don't need to begin with.
Reuse: Don't get something if you already have something else that can fill the need.
Recycle: Don't landfill the things you bring into your life. Instead, find the right waste stream to have them recycled into something else.
How can we make daily choices to preserve our natural resources? We asked Squad friend Lara Hansen, chief scientist and executive director of EcoAdapt (www.ecoadapt.org), for some advice on practical things we can do every day to reduce our consumption. Here's what she shared:
1. Stop using disposable cups. Disposable cups are not recyclable and Americans use way too much of this landfill fodder. I'm challenging friends and family to not buy coffee or tea in a single-use cup for 2018. If you choose to buy a beverage while you're out, you can bring your own cup.
2. Stop using a garbage disposal. Did you know that our very limited freshwater already has too much nutrient pollution in it? Every time you use the garbage disposal, you are making a solid waste problem a liquid waste problem. Instead of using the garbage disposal, put the same waste into the green waste bin you put on your curb. Most municipalities accept household compost in these bins, including not only vegetable waste but also meat, dairy, and oily pizza boxes that cannot go in your recycling. **In DC, you can recycle pizza boxes only if they are completely free of organic matter.
3. Leave the lid on! Keep the lid screwed on tight when you recycle plastic bottles. It's the only way the lid plastic can make it through the recycling process.
4. Leave your house without getting into your car. Chances are when you walk out the door of your home, the first place you go is in the door of your car. This is not good for you, your community, or the planet. Think about ways to get where you are going without a personal car. You'll get to be outside. You'll get to meet your neighbors. You'll get more exercise. You'll save money. You'll protect local waterways and land. You'll protect the atmosphere.
Walk. Bike. Use public transit. They are all great!
If you don't think you can carry what you need when you walk, bike, or use public transit, consider investing in one of these cheap additions to your non-motorized transit tools:
- A great backpack: Get one that is long and has good compression straps. These can be acquired for less than most people spend on lattes in a month.
- Grocery panniers: framed side baskets for your bike. You will need a rack (~$24) and the panniers (from $10-50), or you can make your own: www.bikehacks.com/bikehacks/2011/09/diy-bike-grocery-panniers.html
- Folding shopping cart: ~$30
5. Don't idle. Leaving a car at idle while you wait for someone or run back into your house is bad for air quality and the atmosphere. Turn off your car.
6. Use your water wisely. Waiting for warm water from a tap? Collect the cold water that is just running down the drain in a bucket instead. You can use this water to flush your toilet. If you've never done this, there are (of course!) many helpful websites: https://wtop.com/news/2013/07/water-shut-off-heres-how-to-flush-your-toilet/
7. Don't use disposable utensils. You've got heaps of other stuff in your bag, why not carry the Spork?
http://www.lightmyfire.com/products/products/spork/spork-original.aspx
8. Forego the plastic straw! Out in Seattle, they've banned plastic straws and are encouraging those who must use straws to get paper straws that can be composted. If you really need a straw, get a reusable metal straw. They're super cool looking and they can be used for the rest of your life.
9. Order takeout in your own containers. You bring a cup to get your latte and reusable bags to buy your groceries, but did you know you can bring your own containers to your favorite takeout place and have them use those for your delicacies?
10. Don't bag your veggies at the grocery store! Your vegetables grew outside in the dirt, unprotected from seed to harvest.
11. BYOC: Bring Your Own Container. Buying bulk at the grocery store? Bring your own containers to fill. Weigh the container before you fill it and the store will reduce the price to accommodate the extra weight.
12. Frisbee plate! My officemate in grad school carried a frisbee to the dining hall everyday and used it to eat his lunch. Then he washed it off and played frisbee on the way back to the lab. Win-win!
13. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, in that order.
Reduce: Don't get what you don't need to begin with.
Reuse: Don't get something if you already have something else that can fill the need.
Recycle: Don't landfill the things you bring into your life. Instead, find the right waste stream to have them recycled into something else.