Recycling for a sustainable lifestyle

There are constant calls for us to reduce our carbon footprint. We are asked to recycle and re-use, to develop a more sustainable lifestyle. At the same time we are faced with an uncertain economic outlook. Can we afford to live with sustainability in mind? One answer to that is that we cannot afford to live without sustainability. But many of the things that we can do in the home actually save us money.

One of the things about recycling and reusing is that it is nothing new. Our grandparents, who lived through war and depression, would be horrified at the amount of waste that most of us in the 21^st century create. To those people, and the pioneers before them, the idea of throwing things out simply because they had been used once was simply wrong. We need to return to that mindset where almost everything we use can be used again and again.

What follows are some ideas that can help you make a start on living more sustainably. It is by no means an exhaustive list. Use your creativity and start thinking about how you can reduce your waste, recycle and bring sustainability into your lifestyle.

Plastic bags. The USA uses 60000 plastic bags every five seconds Most of these will go straight into the landfill. Other countries are using similar amounts. So think about what you can do to reduce that. Recycle the bags as rubbish bin liners or pooper scoopers when walking the dog. Charity shops and schools often go through lots of plastic bags. Collect yours together and donate them. Many supermarkets now offer recycling programmes, if your local store doesn’t, ask them to start one. Or you could do what your granny did, buy a decent cloth shopping bag and give up the plastic bags altogether. Chjeck out this website for some amazing facts about what we are using.      http://www.chrisjordan.com/current_set2.php).

Packaging. Selecting goods with less packaging in the first place is a good start. However there will still be some packaging that you can recycle at home. For example aluminium food trays make good drip catchers for your pot plants. Egg cartons, plastic bottles, tetra-pak cartons and toilet paper tubes can be recycled as seedling pots. Paint pots can be cleaned out, have holes drilled in the bottom and used as planters for your deck or patio. Plastic bottles can be filled with snail bait and put out into the garden so that they keep your pets safe. Cardboard and paper can composted or soaked and used as weed mat around your gardens.

Clothing. Buying quality clothes is more sustainable than repeatedly buying the cheaper stuff that needs frequent replacing. If you buy locally made clothes there is less environmental impact due to reduced transportation. The local clothing is often more accurately designed for your particular climate and activities. If you don’t have the money up front to buy new quality clothing, check out local charity shops and yard sales. Often you can get a real bargain on some very good gear. If you are thinking of changing your own wardrobe, have a yard sale yourself to let someone else recycle your clothing, books and furniture.