A New Year means it is time to start fresh, a time to create New Year resolutions that are attainable and will help you thrive. Global warming is becoming more serious with each passing day, so in order to help the planet, why not have the resolution to recycle more or buy less plastic? Here are a few tips to help you create a greener 2020. 

Ditch the Disposable Coffee Mug, and Bring Your Own Instead

You know you could save money on coffee everyday by bringing your own reusable coffee cup? Chains like Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts welcome your own coffee cups and will give you a discount on your purchase, so you are not only helping the environment by avoiding a plastic cup, lid, and straw, but you can also save a little bit of money each time you get a tea or coffee. 

Bring Your Own Bags

Plastic bags are one of the numerous plastic products that harm wildlife everyday, so it is important that you bring your own bags when shopping. Now that it is 2020, Connecticut’s state-wide ban on plastic bags is effectively in use, so grocery stores are changing to paper bags and encouraging customers to bring their own bags. Similar to bringing your own coffee cup, bringing your own also has benefits because some grocery stores give you money back with each reusable bag you use!

Buy Local

Reducing your online purchases can help decrease the carbon emitted from the trucks and planes needed to deliver your product. Buying local is a wonderful alternative because you will not add more carbon emissions to the atmosphere, and you support small businesses. If you do choose to continue ordering online, choose sustainable sites that plant trees with each purchase, donate money to environmental organizations, or reduce carbon emissions. 

Recycle

Don’t just throw your iced tea bottle in the trash, take a quick second to rinse it out and place in the recycling bin. Waste has a tremendous negative impact on the environment, so recycling is important in order to reduce pollution. Different areas recycle different products, so be sure to pay attention to the different recycling numbers your area offers. Fairfield uses single-stream recycling which accepts plastic containers #1-7, plastic shampoo bottles, food storage containers, all food and drink glass bottles WITHOUT caps, newspapers, clean pizza boxes, magazines and more. For more information on what Fairfield recycles visit: https://www.fairfieldct.org/filestorage/10726/10992/16027/43760/RecycleTransferSingleStream.pdf

Ditch As Much Plastic As Possible

Whenever you can avoid plastic, do so. Many companies are creating new alternatives to things as simple as a toothbrush or shampoo. Bamboo toothbrushes are a sustainable alternative to plastic ones and come at a fraction of the cost. Brands such as Zero Waste Cartel offers bamboo brushes that are affordable and you can feel great about using them! Another bathroom product you can purchase to reduce plastic consumption is a shampoo bar. Shampoo bars are a wonderful way to avoid plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles, and they can be healthier for your hair. Shampoo bars contain natural plant oils to support healthy, strong hair and they do not have chemical cleansing agents that strip your hair’s health. 

Reduce Waste in the Kitchen

The kitchen is a place that can produce a lot of waste, but it is simple to reduce it! Invest in glass tupperwares to store leftovers instead of using plastic wrap, or purchase plastic wrap alternatives. Beeswax wrap is an environmentally-friendly alternative to plastic wrap that lasts for up to a year. Buying less food packaged in plastic is another way to reduce waste. If you can avoid vegetables in plastic that is wonderful! Many processed foods are sealed in plastic bags, so limiting consumption is another way to reduce waste. If you are one to buy fresh fruits and veggies and do not know what to do with the scarps, why not begin a compost? Composting gives back to the environment and creates healthy soil for microorganisms and plants.