Create The Change We Deserve

Mother Nature has tolerated our overuse of plastic for decades, and slowly it is taking its toll. As consumers, it is our responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint and make the change we want to see. There are a variety of other things we could do to reduce our carbon footprint. Composting, recycling, and cutting out single-use products are small changes anyone can make to a busy schedule.

Composting can be intimidating if you don't know where to start, but it's easy to learn the basics. There are two types of compost material; kitchen scraps and yard waste. There are many ways to compost, such as worm bins, which use worms to break down the organic material you put in, they produce less odor than other types of composting, and it's recommended to feed them kitchen scraps once a week and to be stored in a dark, damp place. Compost tumblers are recommended for outdoor use, but it is essential to watch the carbon material and nitrogen material ratio. If the compost contains too much nitrogen, decomposition will slow down. A healthy ratio is one-third nitrogen material to two-thirds carbon material. It is perfectly normal for your composter to get hot on the inside; that means it's working. If you would rather go the inexpensive route, you could DIY your own outdoor composter. All you need is a container with the bottom cut out of it, so the compost is sitting on the Earth with some straw between each layer. You will also need to drill holes on the side for ventilation, and unless you use a non-turn method that puts straw between each layer, you will have to turn the compost by hand. Adding activators to your compost will help add good bacteria to the compost. If the compost smells like ammonia, is slimy, has a bad odor, add carbon material, lime, or calcium to cover the smell. You must keep your compost moist, or else the bacteria will not be able to survive. You don't have to worry about this with a worm bin, although you need to keep the worms from drying out. You can keep a worm bin in your kitchen and a compost tumbler on your balcony or in your yard, making them convenient for an urban lifestyle while also having options for more rural areas. To prevent odor and other problems with your compost, you should avoid the following items, Black walnut leaves and branches, coal or charcoal ash, dairy products, diseased or insect-ridden plants, fat, grease, oil, meat, fish, bones, pet feces, and chemical pesticides. Once your composting has fully decomposed, depending on the quantity and the material you composted, you could bury it 24 inches under the surface or use it as fertilizer.

Switching from single-use products to reusable products is easier than it's ever been with modern technology. Instead of repurchasing plastic freezer bags every month, a reusable plastic bag you can put in your dishwasher reduces plastic usage. By switching from plastic bags, you could save 100 to 700 plastic bags from going into landfills a year. Shampoo and conditioner bars have the capacity of 3 bottles in one bar! which is why so many people are making the switch. Replacing dryer sheets with wool balls will save you money and will shorten the drying time. 5000 single-use coffee cups are being used every minute! Just by switching to a reusable cup, you can help lower this statistic.

These are just a few things we can do to change our impact on the world and lower our carbon footprint.