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Make Laundry Cooler
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Don’t have a clothesline? Start small with a thoughtfully designed drying rack (likethis onefrom our sister magazineReal Simple)to dry different types of clothing at once.
02of 17Reevaluate Your Hygiene RoutineGetty ImagesOnce you readthis reporton what plastic tampon applicators are doing to the oceans, you’ll never buy a box again. Instead, use cardboard or try one of thenew reusable alternatives.Other easy ways to limit your plastic use in the bathroom:Ditch the disposable safety razors (2 billion get thrown out annually) for a cartridge-using razor likeHarry’s.Buy unlabeledglass soap bottlesand refill them froma bulk container of soap(with the added benefit of makng your countertop much chicer).Since you’ve got to toss toothbrushes every three months, trybambooinstead of the standard plastic variety. (Or switch to something likeQuip, which only has disposable heads.)
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Reevaluate Your Hygiene Routine
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Once you readthis reporton what plastic tampon applicators are doing to the oceans, you’ll never buy a box again. Instead, use cardboard or try one of thenew reusable alternatives.
Other easy ways to limit your plastic use in the bathroom:
03of 17Call It a Wrap on Plastic WrapGettyReplacing single-use sandwich bags and cling wrap as your food storage methods of choice will help keep you from contributing to the nearly8 million metric tons of plastic in the ocean.Bee’s Wrapinfuses organic cotton with beeswax, organic jojoba oil, and tree resin to create a washable and compostable version of plastic wrap. (You can also rinse, dry and re-use sandwich bags if you want to start smaller.)
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Call It a Wrap on Plastic Wrap
Replacing single-use sandwich bags and cling wrap as your food storage methods of choice will help keep you from contributing to the nearly8 million metric tons of plastic in the ocean.Bee’s Wrapinfuses organic cotton with beeswax, organic jojoba oil, and tree resin to create a washable and compostable version of plastic wrap. (You can also rinse, dry and re-use sandwich bags if you want to start smaller.)
04of 17Paperless Bills Are the Way to GoGettyIf 20 percent of householdspaid their bills online, we could save 150,939,615 lbs. of paper and 1,811,275 trees a year. This simple switch can have a huge impact and it only takes minutes to do it. (Also, though it’s incredibly annoying, set aside an hour to call everyone who sends you a catalog and ask them to take you off their list.)
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Paperless Bills Are the Way to Go
If 20 percent of householdspaid their bills online, we could save 150,939,615 lbs. of paper and 1,811,275 trees a year. This simple switch can have a huge impact and it only takes minutes to do it. (Also, though it’s incredibly annoying, set aside an hour to call everyone who sends you a catalog and ask them to take you off their list.)
05of 17Don’t Throw Away Your ClothesGettyOn average,a person throws away 70 lbs. of shoes and clothing a year— which is a grim statistic when you consider that almost 100 percent of clothing can’t go into standard recycling. For items that you love but have seen better days, take them to a tailor or cobbler to see if they can be repaired or reworked.Sick of the style, or the clothes simply don’t fit? Try selling clothes on sites includingThredup,The Real RealandPoshmark, or organize a clothing swap for family and friends — you’ll get a refreshed, new-to-you wardrobe without creating waste.And finally, many municipalities now offer textile recycling drop-off locations; hit up Google to find one near you.
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Don’t Throw Away Your Clothes
On average,a person throws away 70 lbs. of shoes and clothing a year— which is a grim statistic when you consider that almost 100 percent of clothing can’t go into standard recycling. For items that you love but have seen better days, take them to a tailor or cobbler to see if they can be repaired or reworked.
Sick of the style, or the clothes simply don’t fit? Try selling clothes on sites includingThredup,The Real RealandPoshmark, or organize a clothing swap for family and friends — you’ll get a refreshed, new-to-you wardrobe without creating waste.
And finally, many municipalities now offer textile recycling drop-off locations; hit up Google to find one near you.
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Compost Your Food Scraps
A typical household tosses away about474 pounds of food waste a year, which won’t break down in plastic bags in landfills.
07of 17Conserve Water CreativelyGettyYou already turn off the water when you brush your teeth, take short showers and fill up your dishwasher and washing machines before starting a load.Now, try some other easy tricks, including: using ice cubes you’ve accidently dropped to water your plants instead of tossing them in the sink; soaking your dinner dishes in the biggest dirty pot rather than filling up the sink; and avoiding pre-rinsing dishes before you put them in the dishwasher (most newer models don’t need the extra rinse!).
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Conserve Water Creatively
You already turn off the water when you brush your teeth, take short showers and fill up your dishwasher and washing machines before starting a load.
Now, try some other easy tricks, including: using ice cubes you’ve accidently dropped to water your plants instead of tossing them in the sink; soaking your dinner dishes in the biggest dirty pot rather than filling up the sink; and avoiding pre-rinsing dishes before you put them in the dishwasher (most newer models don’t need the extra rinse!).
08of 17Take the Plunge on Non-Plastic Food StorageGettyPlastic straws, disposable utensils, plastic-lined coffee cups and takeout containers are all rapidly accumulating in landfills and actively work against recycling efforts.You already know that it’s time to carryyour own to-go mug, but it seems so inconvenient! Take our word for it: Once you’ve gotten a set ofreusable containers(glassis especially good, as it can be safely microwaved) to bring your lunch to work, and you throw somereusable sandwich bagsand stainless steelutensilsin a tote so you’re never caught needing a straw or to-go container, you will be surprised at how easy (and rewarding) ditching the disposables is.
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Take the Plunge on Non-Plastic Food Storage
Plastic straws, disposable utensils, plastic-lined coffee cups and takeout containers are all rapidly accumulating in landfills and actively work against recycling efforts.
You already know that it’s time to carryyour own to-go mug, but it seems so inconvenient! Take our word for it: Once you’ve gotten a set ofreusable containers(glassis especially good, as it can be safely microwaved) to bring your lunch to work, and you throw somereusable sandwich bagsand stainless steelutensilsin a tote so you’re never caught needing a straw or to-go container, you will be surprised at how easy (and rewarding) ditching the disposables is.
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Start Giving ‘Green Gifts’
And don’t get guilted into giving “goody bags” or favors for big events! Skip straight-to-landfill giveaways and consider donating to a charity you care about in your guests' honor instead.
10of 17Switch to Energy-Efficient LightingGettyReplace all of your traditional light bulbs with energy-efficient ones, which use a lot less energy and can last much longer than incandescent ones — and will save you money in the long run.
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Switch to Energy-Efficient Lighting
Replace all of your traditional light bulbs with energy-efficient ones, which use a lot less energy and can last much longer than incandescent ones — and will save you money in the long run.
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Eat Organic as Much as Possible
Organic farmingleads to better soil and water quality, less pollution, and a self-sustaining cycle of resources. Non-organic food can often contain growth hormones in livestock, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers, which are linked to a variety of health problems (and are killing off needed insect species).
12of 17Unplug … LiterallyGettyItems that you leave plugged in all the time — think computers, electric kettles, cell phone chargers and video game consoles — can use electricity even when they’re not actively “in use.” An easy solve? Plug them into power strips, then switch the strip off when you don’t need the appliance.
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Unplug … Literally
Items that you leave plugged in all the time — think computers, electric kettles, cell phone chargers and video game consoles — can use electricity even when they’re not actively “in use.” An easy solve? Plug them into power strips, then switch the strip off when you don’t need the appliance.
13of 17Print PrudentlyGettyYou already avoid printing if you don’t have to. Might as well take 30 seconds to go into your printer settings to automatically print double-sided whenever needing a hard copy is unavoidable.
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Print Prudently
You already avoid printing if you don’t have to. Might as well take 30 seconds to go into your printer settings to automatically print double-sided whenever needing a hard copy is unavoidable.
14of 17Review Your RecyclingGettyWe know you’re already diligent about sorting your plastics and papers, but are you positive that everything in the bins can be recycled? Some items (like greasy pizza boxes, plastic bags and containers with food still in them) can contaminate a whole batch and send it to the landfill. Checkthis list(and your local ordinances) to be sure that you aren’t doing “aspirational recycling” and potentially creating bigger problems.
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Review Your Recycling
We know you’re already diligent about sorting your plastics and papers, but are you positive that everything in the bins can be recycled? Some items (like greasy pizza boxes, plastic bags and containers with food still in them) can contaminate a whole batch and send it to the landfill. Checkthis list(and your local ordinances) to be sure that you aren’t doing “aspirational recycling” and potentially creating bigger problems.
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Green Your Clean
16of 17Don’t Get Tired OutGettyTwo easy ways toeco-nomize your ride: Check the air pressure in your tires (in addition to safety concerns, underinflated tires can create more greenhouse emissions) and unload any heavy items in the trunk that don’t need to be there (carrying extra cargo has a negative effect on fuel efficiency).
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Don’t Get Tired Out
Two easy ways toeco-nomize your ride: Check the air pressure in your tires (in addition to safety concerns, underinflated tires can create more greenhouse emissions) and unload any heavy items in the trunk that don’t need to be there (carrying extra cargo has a negative effect on fuel efficiency).
17of 17Water Your Plants at Off-HoursGettyChoose to water them either early in the morning or at night when it’s cooler. Watering your plants in the afternoon, when the sun is at its strongest, can be less effective, as much will be lost to evaporation.
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Water Your Plants at Off-Hours
Choose to water them either early in the morning or at night when it’s cooler. Watering your plants in the afternoon, when the sun is at its strongest, can be less effective, as much will be lost to evaporation.
source: people.com
