Help Cheer Up Our Little Blue Planet

Being a good neighbor and a respectful tenant of Planet Earth can help us have purpose, build community, and make it a better place for future generations and wildlife.

-When you buy bottled water, you are not paying for water, but you are paying for a plastic bottle. Consider spending the money instead on a water filter and refill a reusable bottle from home.

-At least eight other states have banned single use plastic bags. Make the most of those promotional totes we all seem to end up with or create a bag out of an old tee shirt. There are lots of free tutorials online on how to do this (and they make great gift bags!)

-Keep a work glove and small bag in your pocket to pick up at least two pieces of trash when walking outside. Imagine a hidden camera set up. How might a park look after a week if everyone did this? How might it look if everyone just walked on by and ignored the litter?

-Try recipes that support “Meatless Mondays” and read up on the benefits it can have on your health, animals, and the environment.

-Swap out cleaning products with concentrated, multi-purpose cleansers.
Dr Bronner’s is a tried-and-true hippie favorite! Less products coming into the house means less items taking up space or leaving the house.

-Try carpooling, taking public transit, biking, or walking everywhere you can. Make it a challenge among co-workers to see who can save the most hours of driving.

To learn about reducing food waste and start composting in Columbus, visit columbus.gov/foodwaste.