Hey! Did you know that 72% of the garbage that is currently sitting in landfills shouldn't be there? Yeah, 72% of our garbage can easily be recycled, composted, and avoided. So here's the deal; when garbage sits in a landfill, the chemicals that were used to create those plastics, papers, styrofoam, cigarettes, diapers, and anything else sitting there actually leach into the soil and run off into surrounding water. Additionally, when the garbage breaks down it releases methane, a major contributor to the greenhouse effect (This is when the layer of gases around our planet thickens and traps heat from the sun. This is needed to keep are planet warm, but we have added to this layer in vast amounts and this is part of the reason why our planet is warming up so quickly).
Here's what you can do:
*Be mindful: We only have one planet and right now we are treating it as if we had a backup. Your little contributions can make a difference!
*Recycle: You've heard it before! Did you know that only 30% of plastic water bottles used in the United States are recycled? Please remember that when plastic ends up in a landfill it takes any where between 10-100,000 years to degrade. Plastic in our bodies of water are endangering animals everyday.
*Recycle some more: Plastic isn't the only thing that can be recycled. Paper takes up a lot of landfill space, but it can easily be recycled and made into something new!
*Avoid what doesn't biodegrade: Styrofoam. It won't breakdown. At all.
*Donate your clothes: The fashion industry is a mess. It's the second largest polluter in the world. There is a huge demand for quick and cheap clothing, so to solve this, many fashion companies produce their clothing outside the country and ship them to where they are located. These ships produce as much pollution as 50 million cars within one year. Chemicals used on their cotton crops run off into local bodies of water contaminating them with toxins that act as endocrine disruptors. This means when you or local animals come into contact with these chemicals, you can upset your hormonal balance, which are pretty important for development, growth, and function.
Find out more at https://www.ecowatch.com/fast-fashion-is-the-second-dirtiest-industry-in-the-world-next-to-big--1882083445.html
*Use a reusable water bottle :)
*Eat whole foods: Not only is it better for your body, but eating fresh fruit, vegetables, and foods that don't require packaging helps out the environment.
*Save your leftovers: A huge contributor to waste is left over food. We are throwing out three times as much food as we used to in the 1960s. (P.S. it'll taste just as good on day 2)
*Recognize what you are buying: As a consumer you have so much control over what companies are able to stay in business. Before buying a product, do a little research on the environmental impact that company/factory has. Recognize how that company uses their profits. You're in charge ;)
*Be careful with the cleaning products that you use: Chemicals like bleach and ammonia are not fun to breathe in and they aren't so great on the environment. However, natural alternatives like vinegar and baking soda (with a little bit of essential oil for scent) will do the job just as well.
Find more here: https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/15-easy-ways-to-reduce-landfill-waste.php
Stay educated friends!!
