Buy less but buy better. Whether it’s a t-shirt or a kettle, invest in items that will last longer instead of buying something cheap that will fall apart quickly and become landfill in a couple of months.
Turn down your heating a few degrees and opt to wear a sweater instead.
Avoid idling your car. Just ten seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting the engine. In ten minutes the average car will burn through 300 ml of fuel – almost 1/3 of a litre!
Stick to the “empties” rule – only buy a replacement or substitute product once you’ve entirely used up the previous one. Nobody needs five different moisturizers or three cans of the same deodorant!
Host an exchange with your friends where you can swap unwanted clothes, books, shoes and accessories.
Invest in a solar phone charger for a sustainable way to charge your phone.
Even if you’re not looking to go vegetarian, try having a meat-free dinner at least once a week. Consuming less meat helps to reduce carbon emissions, and gives you a chance to be creative with your cooking!
Appliances and electronics can still use electricity when left on standby so be sure to switch off and unplug as much as possible each night. Plug electronic devices into power bars with timers to shut them off automatically.
Stick to a 5-minute shower each day to save water. Save even more by installing a low-flow showerhead!
Invest in a bamboo toothbrush since they’re more sustainable than plastic ones.
Tea bags are often not biodegradable so consider switching to loose tea leaves with a tea infuser.
Think twice each time you go to throw something away – could you repurpose it in any way?
Buy in bulk whenever you can to reduce packaging. Invest in a set of resuable bags for produce and other bulk items.
Research the companies you buy from so you can support ones that have clear environmental policies in place.
Always have a reusable shopping bag handy so you can avoid single-use plastic bags.
Research companies that use sustainable palm oil in their products and try to avoid those that don’t.
Encourage your workplace to adopt green practices. See if you can set up a paper recycling station by the printer, or implement a carpool scheme.
Put your food scraps to good use and begin a compost pile. Research what you should and should not be adding to the pile, or, where available, participate in your local Green Bin program.
Use old t-shirts or towels to clean your kitchen surfaces instead of paper towels. When they get dirty, simply wash and reuse!
Cleaning products are often made with harsh chemicals that are not biodegradable. Research natural, homemade cleaning products that can be made with simple ingredients (but still pack a punch)!
Enforce a “zero food waste” rule to make sure that you don’t throw out food that could have been eaten. Freeze leftovers, make smoothies and think of creative ways to use up leftover food.
Buy recycled versions of household products such as toilet paper, paper towels and coffee filters.
If you have a lawn or window box, plant bee-friendly plants like lavender, bergamot, echinacea, asters, wild strawberry, and white clover.
Adhere to the speed limit when driving. For every 10 km/h you go over 100, fuel efficiency drops by 10%. Driving 120 on the highway instead of 100 is like paying 20% extra for gas!
Don’t ignore leaky or dripping taps in your home. Be sure to get them fixed quickly to avoid wasting water.
Whenever you get take out, make a note on the order not to include any cutlery or napkins – you have both of those things at home!
If you travel abroad, a lot of airline companies offer carbon offsetting programs where you can pay money to tree-planting initiatives as a way to neutralize your flight.
Invest in a set of rechargeable batteries instead of buying disposable batteries.
Research local environmental organizations you can volunteer with. If there aren’t any that share your interests, you can start your own!
Learn to fix things when they break instead of throwing them away. A simple stitch, repair or clean is sometimes enough to keep something from becoming landfill.
Most washing machines are efficient enough to work at lower temperatures, so switch to a cooler washing program. Be sure to wash a full load so that you’re not wasting any water or electricity.
Invest in a water filter and say goodbye to bottled water. This will save you money and reduce the amount of plastic pollution your household produces.
Avoid single-use products such as disposable razors and cutlery. Invest in reusable items instead.
Plan your meals in advance to avoid any potential food waste and ensure that you’re using all of your produce.
Line your trash cans with newspaper instead of using plastic liners. You can also line your green bin with newspaper to make your organics easier to collect at the curb.
Sign up for paperless billing with your suppliers. It’s easy to do and helps to reduce paper consumption.
Write to your local political representative about environmental issues that concern you, whether it’s the need for more recycling facilities, starting a community garden, or developing active transportation opportunities.
Support your local farmer’s market and make it a goal to buy produce that was grown as close to you as possible.
Houseplants help absorb carbon dioxide in the room, so pick some that are easy to care for.
Avoid impulse purchases becoming landfill by implementing a 24-hour wait policy when buying non-essential items. This will cut down on wasteful buying and hopefully save you some money too!
Make sure that you’re recycling as much as you can. Paper, metal and glass are all widely recyclable, as are some forms of plastic.
Switch off your lights and make use of natural lighting.
Instead of using an electric dryer for your laundry, opt to line dry or to use a clothes rack instead.
Invest in a reusable straw. Reusable straws come in many materials to suit your needs, including stainless steel, silicone, glass, and bamboo. If single-use straws are needed, then compostable paper straws are the way to go.
Avoid letting the water run when brushing your teeth or washing the dishes.
If you’re able to, plant your own herbs. They’re easy to maintain and provide you with locally grown flavour.
Adhere to the “30 minute” rule – if your destination is less than a 30-minute walk away, and it’s safe to do so, walk it or ride your bike.
If you do have to drive, consider starting a carpool with your neighbours.
Be conscientious when you turn on the heating. Make sure all the windows and doors are shut so you’re not losing any heat.
Download the “Muskoka Recycles” mobile app for your phone and use the “Waste Wizard” tool to discover how to properly dispose of commonly used items around your house.
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