It’s spring! That means sunnier days ahead and an important celebration in April: our planet. As you appreciate the warmth and blooms of the season, show your love by celebrating Earth Day all month long.
To make the most of this sustainability-focused month, reflect on opportunities to go green in your everyday life. Here are a few places to start:
Save energy. When thinking about energy efficiency, room lighting often comes to mind. Fortunately, many people turn the light off when they leave a room. That’s a good habit, and yet the type of lightbulb also has an important impact on energy use. Make the most of this energy saving opportunity by switch to LED bulbs this April. LED bulbs last longer than CFL and incandescent bulbs, which means the energy efficiency will stick around long past Earth Month.
Lowering your heat by just a degree or two can have a major impact on your energy use and electric bill. Open your blinds during the day to let the April sun naturally heat your home, and grab a heated blanket to stay cozy on chilly nights.
Make a habit of unplugging phone and laptop charges once your devices are powered up, as these use energy even when not in use. While you’re at it, take a look around for any devices that are rarely used and could be unplugged to save electricity. This could be a DVD player, video game console, printer or a small appliance.
Prevent food waste. Between forgotten strawberries and discarded leftovers, the amount of food a household throws away really adds up, as do the impacts on the planet. Throwing away food wastes everything: all the water, energy, and other natural resources that went into growing and transporting that food.
The good news is there are easy ways to ensure food makes it to the table, not the garbage. Visit the WM website wmnorthwest.com for food waste reduction tips such as:
• Storing food properly to extend its life
• Using an “Eat First” box
• Understanding date labels
• Keeping a food waste log
Reduce and reuse as first steps. Many people have heard the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle.” Did you know the order matters? Reducing and reusing are even more impactful than recycling. The best way to minimize waste is by avoiding it in the first place.
Opting for reusable bags is a common waste reduction tip. The challenge is remembering to bring the reusable bag! When making your weekly grocery list, write “bags” at the top as a timely reminder.
If you still forget your bags, consider carrying groceries out loose if you don’t have too many. Better yet, keep a small, collapsible bag in your purse or backpack to have on hand for unplanned stops at the store. Immediately put the bag away after use so you always have it with you.
Here’s to a beautiful and green planet this Earth Month and beyond.
Karissa Miller is WM’s recycling education and outreach manager. Learn more about waste reduction at the WM website – wmnorthwest.com.
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