7. Eat less meat
Meat has a big impact on the environment, with a study led by Gidon Eshel of Bard College suggesting it has a bigger impact on our carbon footprint than cars. Not everyone wants to go fully vegetarian, but try participating in a meatless day a week.
8. Buy items secondhand
Not only will it save you money, but it also prolongs the life of a perfectly usable item that may have otherwise gone to the landfill.
9. Compost
Invest in your own backyard compost or see if your city has a compost program — many are cheap or even free to join, and it turns food waste back into useable energy.
10. Streamline your mailbox
Ask to be removed from junk mail databases and switch your bills and bank statements to paperless. If you’re a big online shopper, try to order in one purchase to cut down on the number of boxes you receive.
11. Reduce your paper towel consumption
Try having a stack of dishtowels on hand for drying hands while cooking or washing up, and consider cloth napkins at dinnertime.
12. Contact your representatives about environmental issues
Whether it’s improving composting and recycling in your city, getting better public transportation, protecting wild lands or keeping corporations from polluting local waterways, hold your representatives accountable and keep in constant contact with them.
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