Sustainability and being environmentally friendly is on everyone's minds lately and with good reason. Because our planet’s climate is rapidly changing, doing our part to reduce waste is more important than ever. Let’s make sure eco-warriors don’t blow a 3-1 lead!

Here are some ways to change your lifestyle and be more eco-friendly in and outside the home.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

A timeless classic Millennials heard a lot growing up, but it’s still relevant now more than ever. 

• REDUCE:
• The amount of waste your family throws away.
• Pollution into the air and water.
• The quantity of clothes you buy new.
• REUSE:
• Old clothes as cleaning cloths.
• Containers and bags for other purposes.
• Other people’s items. Go thrifting!
• RECYCLE:
• Paper/Cardboard
• Plastics
• Glass
• Aluminum
• Rubber
• Metal

Compost Food Waste

Food waste cannot be traditionally recycled, but it can be composted. There are few different ways to compost:

• Traditional composting, also known as Vermicomposting, relies on worms in bins feasting on food scraps and waste. This is typically set up in a back yard or garden with space around it.
• Direct composting means directly burying your food waste into a hole in the ground outside.
• Aerobic or open-air composting is a pile of soil, food scraps and lawn clippings, outdoors and requires frequent turning and oxygen.
• Electric composting, with a product like Airthereal’s Electric Composter, uses biodegradable filters and SHARKSDEN Tri-Blade to heat-dry and break down waste inside the home.

Neighborhood Clean-Up

Commit to spending one to two days a week cleaning up your neighborhood and community spaces. Not sure where to start?

• Start small. Buy a trash picker, some gloves and a pail or trash bag and clean up litter in your immediate neighborhood. Wear a hat to keep the sun off your scalp, put in some headphones, and listen to music or a podcast. Not only are you cleaning up the area you live and walk in, you get some free “you” time.
• Volunteer with a local clean-up organization to meet people in the same mindset and community as you.

Make Adjustments At Home

Go green with your electronics, unplug unused items, lower the lights and the natural light in. There’s so many ways to tweak how you consume energy and declutter your space.

• Switch out those lightbulbs with more energy efficient ones.
• Unplug electronics that don’t need to be plugged in all the time.
• Every 9 months to a year, donate clothes you haven’t worn in that time frame. 

The time to live a sustainable life is now. Get into the habit of donating and recycling and it’ll feel less like a chore. Make sure you have open access to your city’s recycling bins and centers. Start small and have a family member or friend join in or make it a family challenge.

We’re all in this together to make the Earth a cleaner, healthier place.