Step 1
Compost your yard trimmings, vegetable scraps, paper scraps and dryer lint into nutrient-rich materials that can be mixed with your soil, to reduce your waste materials. The only materials required to compost are an inexpensive indoor 3-gallon compost bin and an outdoor 30-gallon plastic container to store your materials. Add materials, turn them at least once monthly, and mix with your soil once it gains a soil-like consistency.
Step 2
Reduce your meat consumption. Not only will this cut your grocery bills, but it will likely impact your medical bills for the better as well, as limiting meat consumption can reduce your cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity risks. The meat industry contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, requires water usage and demands fossil fuel.
Step 3
Frequent farmers markets. Farmers markets traditionally offer fresh fare that was produced close to your home and can often make it available with fewer preservative chemicals due to the shortened transport time.
Step 4
Clean your home with natural products. Baking soda, essential oils, lemon juice and vinegar all have the same abrasive or antibacterial properties as harsher, more expensive chemical cleansers, but they will not harm the environment when washed down your sink and into the water system. This change is green for the earth and keeps green in your wallet, as these items are traditionally less expensive than chemical cleaners.
Step 5
Ditch the wrapping paper. Instead, reuse old newspaper, cloth or sheets to wrap birthday and holiday presents. When these are not feasible, utilizing recycled paper will work as well.
