As I was rolling my trash bin to the curb earlier this week, I grinned from ear to ear. I was incredibly happy over its contents. No, I had not completed my spring cleaning nor organized my garage … I was just nearly “trashless.” For the last several weeks, the amount of trash my husband and I generated could be held in one hand. Had I not had the occasional nasty plastic wrap from meat or miscellaneous bones that caused odor, I could probably – at least at this rate – go a year or more without having to empty the bin. But my accomplishment wasn’t intentional. I mean, I didn’t set out specifically to see how little trash I could generate. What I did do, however, was be vigilant about living green.
Fewer Consumer Goods – I have made a vow to delay purchases as long as I can. Not to save money necessarily, but to reduce my carbon footprint. For example, just because my toaster oven has a hunk broken out of the crumb tray and the glass has discolored over the years, I continue to use it anyway. When I do have to purchase something, I often buy used. Unless you’re talking about underwear or toothbrushes, used is just as good, and you do save a lot of money in the process.
Kitchen Waste – I’ve almost always had some sort of composting operation at my house, but this past holiday season I got uber serious. My husband bought me an awesome toy that allows me to compost virtually any kitchen waste, including small bone fragments. I LOVE it! About every two weeks I’m able to harvest a wonderful batch of nutrient-rich compost that is keeping my garden and landscaping looking fabulous.
Recycling – I’ve been one of the recycling police for years, so I haven’t seen a lot of incremental improvement in my actions here. Thank goodness my community lets me recycle just about everything, which dramatically cuts down on my trash output.
Donations – When it is time to clean out the garage (and believe me – I’m way overdue), very little will be trashed. It will either get donated or freecycled at the curb.
So even though I didn’t make it a priority to reduce my trash volume, by living a green lifestyle, it just naturally happened. Seeing the synergies that come from making green decisions is incredibly gratifying, and I’m still grinning from ear to ear.
More from Cherri:
10 Ways to ‘Green Up’ Your Bedroom
Article by Cherri Megasko
Cherri grew up on a farm in rural Missouri. Conserving resources and living a sustainable lifestyle were things she was taught very early in life. She currently writes for several online sites covering a variety of subjects, with Green Living being the one closest to her heart. In addition to educating others on how to reduce their carbon footprint, Cherri strives to do so in her everyday life as well. From composting kitchen waste to transitioning to family cloth, she delights in sharing her experiences with her readers. Cherri also holds a degree in environmental science.
Cherri has written 8 awesome articles for Natural Family Today.
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http://www.facebook.com/people/Pam-Wood-Kimsey/1338580127 Pam Wood Kimsey
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Cherri Megasko
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