Sorting Strategies for a Happy Planet

So, I walked by this wall banner last week. Just as I have a hundred times before while running to class at Saint Mary’s. It’s full of text, looks a little clunky, and isn’t exactly the most attention-grabbing piece of information out there. This 40 x 40 piece of mount board actually has all the tools you need to make a significant impact on the environment! It lists a wide variety of items we tend to throw away on an everyday basis and teaches us how to properly sort our trash! There are four basic categories and each item can get tidied based on this breakdown. It’s very simple if you just make the effort!

I know, the immediate thought is “What difference is one small item going to make?” Appropriately sorting your trash makes for a much happier planet. When one of your uneaten pizza crusts is sent to the landfill instead of composted, it breaks down into methane, and methane is actually the third largest contributor to the greenhouse effect. Similarly, if your plastic Coke bottle isn’t properly recycled, it ends up in our water bodies, wreaking havoc on the sweet, wonderful creatures who call those waters their home. When a coffee cup gets mixed in with organics, the compostable items get rendered useless, sending all of that right back to the landfill. It’s a vicious cycle!

Sorting your waste is a quick and easy way to give a little love to our planet, and banners like these make it so simple to do! Take the time. Educate yourself on your impact. Make yourself a better you for a better Earth.

Other tiny changes for a giant impact:

1. Use compostable garbage bags for your organics

2. Carry cloth bags for your grocery runs

3. Eat with your stomach, not your eyes. Adjust the number of groceries you buy if you tend to waste them regularly.

4. Eat less meat. Animal breeding causes deforestation, friends!

5. Use reusable makeup wipes. Erase Your Face is a great option.

6. Use reusable feminine hygiene products. The Diva Cup is an A+ choice.

7. Take public transportation or walk more often

8. Unplug your electronics once they reach 100%

9. Buy refurbished electronics. Apple is so good for this! My laptop is a refurbished one too.

10. Shop at thrift store instead of the mall. Fashion has a massive impact on the environment! Be a little mindful while shopping and save some money too!