10 Ways To Go Green & Keep The Earth Clean

With natural resources diminishing and the global population increasing exponentially, it’s more important now than ever to take care of the environment. When we all do our part to go green, we can keep the earth clean! So check out these 10 tips you can do RIGHT NOW to make the world a better place!

1. Recycle!

I bet you were taught in school the infamous saying “reduce, reuse, and recycle,” but do you actually do any of that? Really? You make sure to separate plastic from other trash? Ok, good, just checking! But seriously, recycling is one of the easiest ways to help keep the earth clean. And, there are tons of companies using YOUR recycled plastic to make awesome products. To name a few, Stella McCartney, Nike, and Adidas all use recycled plastic in their clothing products.

2. Turn the faucet off when you’re brushing your teeth.

Oh my gosh, this is a HUGE pet peeve of mine! When you’re brushing your teeth, be mindful of the amount of water you use. For example, don’t leave the water running while you’re brushing your teeth. It’s such a waste of water, and you’re not actually using it! I get that sometimes it might be just an old habit you have, but try and make the effort to turn it off. You really only need to run your toothbrush under the faucet twice.

3. When you go for a walk, bring a grocery bag and fill it with trash.

Yeah, this might be a little hard to do all of the time, but try and make this monthly goal! I bet if you step outside your front door right now and take a left, you’ll come across some form of trash. How sad is that! Are you really going to just stand there and let it clog up the sewage drain? No! Roll up your sleeves and get to work (just wear gloves because you are dealing with trash and there is a pandemic on the loose)!

Oh, and don’t be one of those people who almost makes it to the trash can but then leaves a big pile of food wrappers RIGHT NEXT TO IT. Dude, you just needed to take one more step.

4. Use a hydro flask instead of plastic bottles.

You can help cut down the amount of plastic being used by purchasing a Hydro Flask! Not only are they trendy, but they really do make a difference! So instead of going to the store and buying a crate of plastic water bottles that you’ll go through in a week, invest in a Hydro Flask and get used to refilling! Don’t forget to personalize it with cute stickers!

5. Take shorter showers.

Similar to the “brushing your teeth” tip, try and take shorter showers. I completely understand that they feel amazing, and sometimes you just want to let the hot water run on your back, but if you’re hitting the 15-minute mark, something is seriously wrong. Aim for 5-minute showers, and treat yourself to a 10-minute shower every once in a while. If need be, set a timer and stick to it!

Also, don’t turn the shower on and walk away for 10 minutes, and claim you are “waiting for it to warm up.” What a waste of water!

6. Carpool with your friends.

Be even more eco-friendly and cut down the number of cars on the road. If you and your friends have jobs near each other, or maybe you even go to the same school, set up a carpool schedule! Trust me, both you and your friends will benefit from this easy environmental tip (gas ain’t cheap)!

7. Get silicone straws and use them whenever you go out to eat.

You remember the whole straw movement a couple years back, right? Starbucks was really into it, making sure not to sell any plastic straws with their drinks, only paper. And while I completely love this idea, I will admit paper straws blow (pun intended)! They get all soggy in your mouth just two sips in.

But luckily for you, there’s still a way for you to partake in the straw movement without suffering from a deflated straw… Get yourself a set of silicone straws! You can take them with you when you go out to eat, and they are perfect during the pandemic (a better way to keep the germs at bay).

8. If possible, bike or walk instead of drive.

I know we talked about the carpool gig, but if at all possible, ditch the car completely and bike or walk instead. Not only will you be doing the environment a favor, but you’ll be getting some physical exercise! It’s a win-win!

9. Start a simple vegetable or fruit garden.

One of the best ways to give back to the earth is to add some more green to it. You can do this by starting one of your very own vegetable or fruit gardens! Simply sector off a small portion of your backyard, and dedicate it to your new garden. Find out which vegetables or fruits will flourish in your climate, and get to work! Who knows, you might have found your new niche!

And, if you don’t have time to maintain a garden, opt for planting a tree instead. It will still have a good impact on the environment, and give you lots of shade! Haven’t you ever read “The Giving Tree?”

10. Pay your bills online instead of by mail.

This might be the easiest way to go green. Almost all banks give the option to pay your bills online now, so help save trees by making your billing exclusively online! You can extend this logic to all other paper mail subscriptions. It might take a little bit of extra work, but it is worth it!