Ten Small But Huge Ways To Save The Environment

Ten Small But Huge Ways To Save The Environment

The earth's got serious problems. These include pollution, global warming, deforestation, and extinction of species, only to name a few. Little do you realize that even the seemingly minor things you do, like tossing a candy wrapper on the sidewalk, are creating a huge impact on the destruction of the environment.

But before you begin blaming yourself for its depletion, realize that there, too, are small and seemingly minor things you can do to help save it. By simply changing your daily routine, you can contribute to the preservation of Mother Nature's resources. Here are ten small (but huge) practices you can begin adopting.

1. Recycle

This means not throwing away things that may be used again. Keep a separate container for scrap paper you can recycle. Old shampoo bottles and other plastics should also be kept separate; you can sell them to people who collect recyclables, or use them for other purposes in the future. This practice will not only help save the environment; it will also help clear up the clutter in your home.

2. Learn Composting

One man's trash is another man's treasure, as the saying goes. Collect garden wastes and organic scraps from the kitchen. To make compost, what you should do is combine the brown materials, like sawdust and dead leaves, with the so-called green materials, like food wastes and grass clippings in a container. Punch holes on the sides so air can seep through, and mix the contents around once in a while. After about a month, you'll already have your own fertilizer.

3. Manage Your Speed

Go easy on the gas pedal. For every ten kilometers you reduce in speed, you save around 10% from your fuel expenses – you also give off less pollution.

4. Turn the Lights Out

If you're not watching TV, turn it off. If a room is not occupied, there's no reason you should keep the lights on. Electricity is usually produced by burning fossil fuels -- which emit dangerous chemicals into the air and destroy the ozone layer.

5. Walk

Want to get around? Walk, ride a bike, or take public transportation. Carpooling is also a practical option. It's better than taking your car and contributing to the pollution in the air.

6. Be a Green Thumb

Plants are the best weapons against pollution. Not only do they provide shade, they also gobble up the excess carbon monoxide in the air, which contributes to global warming. This means you can stop using the air conditioner, which pumps out huge amounts of harmful greenhouse gases into the air.

7. Be Shower Smart

Common sense tells us that taking a shorter shower saves us valuable water. (Only one percent of the world's water is fresh; the rest is saltwater.)

8. Get Creative.

Reuse things. Find a use for everything, from cool boxes, to old and refillable ink cartridges. Instead of throwing out old items, give them to the less fortunate or rework them into something else. Be creative. The environment is worth the extra few minutes it takes to reuse and recycle.

9. Be a Wise Shopper

Support manufacturers that try to help the environment. Check labels to see if a product was made with the least impact on the environment or if it's labeled 'environment friendly'.

10. Bring Your Own Bag

If you buy something that's small enough to fit inside your bag, tell the cashier not to wrap it in plastic, or not to wrap it anymore. If you know you're going to go on a shopping spree, bring a big shoulder bag. It'll also put an end to the growing pile of unused shopping bags in your house.